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HISTORY 



OF THE 



PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 



SIXTY-NINTH, SEVENTY-FIRST, SEVENTY-SECOND, 
AND ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH PENN- 
SYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS. 



BY 



CHARLES H. BANES, 



LATE BREVET LIEUTENANT-COLONEL AND ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL 

VOLUNTEERS. 



'iii.t}}.:^ 



PHILADELPHIA: 

J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 

1876. 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by 

CHARLES H. BANES, 
In the OflBce of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



\ 



PREFACE. 



In the preparation of this History, the author has 
had access to official documents, as well as journals and 
reports in the possession of members of the Brigade. 
In order to more fully illustrate the operations of the 
command, brief accounts of army movements have been 
introduced. For much of this general information, the 
writer is indebted to "Swinton's Army of the Potomac,'^ 
the " Report of the Committee on the Conduct of the 
War/' and unpublished reports on file in the War De- 
partment, w^hich he has been permitted to examine. He 
has attempted to give a connected history of the com- 
mand from its formation until its regiments were mus- 
tered out, and in doing so he has endeavored to confine 
his work to a simple narrative of its toils and conflicts, 
without any flattery of regiments or officers, and without 
any attempt at criticising the operations of the army. 

With the exception of two or three companies formed 
in the interior of Pennsylvania, the four regiments of the 
Brigade w^ere composed chiefly of volunteers from the 
city of Philadelphia, and for that reason might properly 



4 PREFACE. 

be called the Philadelphia Brigade. It consisted of the 
Sixty-Ninth, Seventy-First, Seventy-Second, and One 
Hundred and Sixth Regiments of Pennsylvania Vol- 
unteers, and was designated the Second Brigade of the 
Second Division, Second Corps, Army of the Potomac. 
The command had, from the first enrollment until the 
muster out, three hundred and fifty field, staff, and line 
officers, and over six thousand non-commissioned officers 
and privates. The officers and men of the regiments 
were equal in courage, endurance, and discipline to the 
best commands of the army, and their soldierly bearing 
on the march and in battle helped to make the history 
of the Army of the Potomac. 

To his surviving comrades this volume is respectfully 
offered, in the belief that the old scenes revived in these 
pages will cause increased respect for the memories of 
those who have fallen, renewed sympathy and regard for 
the true men who survive, and, above all, an abiding 
appreciation of the birthright for which the battles were 
fought. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER 
I. 


The Formation .... 


PAGE 

7 


II. 


Chain Bridge 


17 


III. 


Ball's Bluff 


. 24 


lY. 


Camp Observation . . 


31 


V. 


Across the Potomac 


. 37 


VI. 


YORKTOWN 


45 


VII. 


Fair Oaks 


. 58 


VIII. 


The Seven Days' Fight 


73 


IX. 


Pope's Campaign 


. 91 


X. 


Antietam 


103 


XI. 


Harper's Ferry .... 


. 119 


XII. 


Fredericksburg 


128 


XIII. 


Falmouth 


. 147 


XIV. 


Chancellorsville 


157 


XV. 


The March after Lee . 


. 166 


XVI. 


Gettysburg 


175 


XVII. 


The Rappahannock and Mine Bun 


. 198 


XVIII. 


The Wilderness 


216 


XIX. 


Spottsylvania Court-House . 


. 237 


XX. 


North Anna 


254 


XXI. 


Cold Harbor 


. 268 


XXII. 


Petersburg 


276 


XXIII. 


Honorably Discharged . 


. 287 


Roll oe 


' Dead 


295 



HISTORY 



OF 



THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE, 



CHAPTER I. 



THE FORMATION. 



Edward D. Baker, a member of the United States 
Senate, and a soldier of high spirit, full of patriotism 
and military ardor, was the father of the Philadelphia 
Brigade. He was born in England about the year 1800, 
and came to this country when very young in life, find- 
ing a home in Philadelphia. He had been in the city 
but a few years when, by the death of his father, he was 
thrown entirely upon his own resources to support him- 
self and a younger brother. His force of character and 
self-reliance enabled him to cheerfully undertake the 
task, and he speedily found work for both in one of the 
mills in the lower part of the city. At the age of 
twenty-one, his restless spirit and his ambition for 
greater success led him to start with his younger brother, 
carrying their entire worldly possessions on their backs, 

7 



8 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

for the great West, the land of hope at that time, if not 
now, for young men having as their only capital for 
investment strong arms, stout hearts, and honest aspira- 
tions. 

They settled first in Springfield, Illinois, where Ed- 
ward commenced the study, and afterwards the practice, 
of law, and having fine natural gifts improved by close 
attention to his profession and extensive reading, he 
soon reached a high position at the bar. In the year 
1846 he was elected from his district to Congress, where 
he bid fair to become one of the leaders of the House. 
When the Mexican War broke out he at once returned 
to Illinois and raised a regiment of volunteers, with 
which he joined General Scott's army on its march to 
the city of Mexico. After the battle of Cerro Gordo 
he was placed in command of a brigade, which he led 
during the rest of the war w^ith distinguished credit. 
When the Mexican War was ended he was again elected 
to Congress, and served another term. In 1851 he 
transferred his residence to San Francisco, where he 
speedily became one of its most prominent lawyers. 
Baker soon changed his residence again, locating this 
time in Oregon, from which he was elected in 1860 to 
the United States Senate. 

The spirit that aroused the men of the North on the 
taking of Fort Sumter, found an enthusiastic response 
in the breast of Edward D. Baker ; and in one of his 
last public addresses delivered in New York just before 
he commenced to raise the Philadelphia Brigade (then 
called the California Regiments), he uttered these elo- 
quent and prophetic words : " And if from the far 
Pacific a voice feebler than the feeblest murmur upon 



THE FORMATION. 9 

its shore may be heard to give you courage and hope in 
the contest, that voice is yours to-day ; and if a man 
whose hair is gray, who is well-nigh worn out in the 
battle and toil of life, may pledge himself on such an 
occasion and in such an audience, let me say as my last 
word, that when, amid sheeted fire and flame, I saw and 
led the hosts of New York as they charged upon a for- 
eign soil for the honor of your flag, so again, if Provi- 
dence shall will it, this feeble hand shall draw a sword 
never yet dishonored — not to fight for distant honor in 
a foreign land, but to fight for country, for home, for 
law, for government, for constitution, for right, for free- 
dom, for humanity, and in the hope that the banner of 
my country may advance, and wheresoever that banner 
weaves there glory may follow and freedom be estab- 
lished.'^ 

Colonel Baker was especially commissioned by Presi- 
dent Lincoln to raise the Seventy-First Pennsylvania 
Regiment, or, as it was called at the muster, the First 
California Regiment, and recruiting was commenced in 
the early part of April, 1861, at Philadelphia. It was 
among the first of the three-year troops that were en- 
listed, and the work of enrolling was under the imme- 
diate charge of Colonel Isaac J. AYistar, of Philadelphia, 
who had commanded Indian Rangers in California and 
Oregon in 1850, and who had had considerable experi- 
ence in the warfare incidental to the early settlements of 
the Pacific coast. 

In a few weeks over one thousand men were enlisted, 
and were sent by detachments to report to the regimental 
headquarters established in New York city, where they 
were mustered into the service, and organized by the 

2 



10 HISTORY OF TEE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

choice of the following as field-officers: EdwardD. Baker, 
Colonel ; Isaac J. Wistar, Lieutenant-Colonel ; K. ^A. 
Parrish, Major. The regiment had not been recognized 
by either Pennsylvania or New York, and was treated 
as belonging to the regular army, its returns being made 

accordingly. 

Until the last of June it was engaged in drilling and 
completing its organization in the vicinity of New York, 
—part of the time at Fort Schuyler. On the 1st of 
July it was ordered to Fortress Monroeism Philadelphia ; 
and as it passed in column through the streets of the 
city, it reflected the greatest credit on its officers, and 
elicited the heartiest applause from the citizens who 
crowded the line of march, and who, in spite of the 
rebel gray uniform and the regimental name of a far-off 
sister State, recognized in the regiment marching towards 
the South— in every step giving evidence of its fine drill 
and discipline— hundreds of the young men of the 
Quaker City. Upon its arrival at Fortress Monroe it 
was assigned to duty, picketing and scouting on the 
Peninsula; its tour of duty extending to the vicinity 

of Big Bethel. 

The regiment remained at Fortress Monroe until after 
the first battle of Bull Eun, when it Avas transferred to 
the south bank of the Potomac, opposite Washington, 
and engaged, along with other commands, in building 
Fort Ethan Allen, near Chain Bridge, and in strength- 
ening the defenses of the capital. 

The Seventy-Second Pennsylvania, known in its earlier 
history as the Philadelphia Fire Zouaves, was the second 
regim'ent of Baker's Brigade to leave Philadelphia. Ke- 
cruiting was commenced on the 3d of August, 18G1, and 



rr'> 



THE FORMATION. ' H 

in one week its ranks were full. A regimental organi- 
zation was effected by the choice of the following officers: 
DeAYitt Clinton Baxter, of Philadelphia, Colonel; Theo- 
dore Hesser, of Philadelphia, Lieutenant-Colonel; James 
M. DeWitt, of the Chicago Zouaves, Major. 

Colonel Baxter had served as lieutenant-colonel of the 
Nineteenth Kegiment of three-months' men, and was 
noted for his knowledge of the drill and tactics of the 
school of the soldier. The regiment had two flank or 
skirmish companies, that had been thoroughly instructed 
in the peculiar bayonet exercise and evolutions of the 
Chicago Zouaves ; this drill proved subsequently of very 
little value in the woods of Virginia, or under the fire of 
the long-range rifles, and was speedily looked upon by 
the men, in the rapid development of their military ex- 
perience, as a pleasant sort of gymnastics. The " fancy 
drill'^ — as it was termed by the soldiers — enjoyed for a 
brief period considerable popularity; so much so, that 
the citizens of Philadelphia crowded the Academy of 
Music to witness the manoeuvres of one of Baxter's 
companies before its departure. 

The Fire Zouaves contained representatives from 
almost every fire company in the city of Philadelphia. 
Kival organizations, that had fought for the "first 
stream" or the ^'best plug" at the fire in the exciting days 
of the volunteer department, buried their animosities, 
and united against one common foe. The uniform of 
the men was of a description calculated at first sight to 
please the eye of one who looked more at the picturesque 
than at the serviceable, although it was far from being 
as showy and foreign as that of the New York Zouaves. 
It consisted of light-blue pants, cut wide, with red stripes 



12 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

at the side ; a cut-away jacket, with rows of bright bell 
buttons, only one of which was for use, — that next the 
throat ; a shirt of some bright color, not uufrequently 
having the letter of the company embroidered on the 
bosom ; regulation cap ; and white leggings, confining 
the bottom of the pants. The jacket was well adapted 
to keep the throat warm in summer, and to expose the 
vital parts of the body to the blasts of winter, and by 
the utter absence of any convenient location for pockets 
it deprived the men of a safe hiding-place for many a 
little luxury, while it furnished nothing to carry extm 
ammunition. The white leggings, when worn at night 
or on the skirmish line, were dangerously conspicuous, 
and gave poor compensation for their only advantage, — 
the protection of the feet from the dust while on the 
march. Early in the war, and before the men were 
thoroughly disciplined, when the route lay through a 
muddy country, the soldiers, in their endeavors to pro- 
tect their handsome white leggings from being soiled, 
Avould spread over a wide space to keep the solid ground. 
On one such occasion, a general officer rode up to the , 
colonel commanding and suggested that he should ^Hake 
his armed mob out of the way, and let the troops pass 
by." As uniforms wore out and were replaced, the old 
portions were frequently given to the cam23 followers 
and officers' servants, and, as they were to be found in all 
parts of the column, it sometimes appeared as if Baxter's 
men were represented everywhere. It. was no small sat- 
isfaction to both officers and men that, after a few months' 
experience, the zouave uniform was discarded for the 
regulation dress. 

The regiment was formed at Camp Lyon, in West 



THE FORMATION. 13 

Philadelphia, and spent the time until its departure in 
equipping the companies and drilling .the men. On the 
afternoon of Sunday, September loth, an order was re- 
ceived from Colonel Baker to break camp and start at 
once for Washington. The order was promptly obeyed, 
and those men who Avere absent visiting their friends in 
the city were notified through the ringing of fire-alarm 
bells. At an early hour of the same evening the com- 
mand left Camp Lyon, and marched through the city 
to the Volunteer Refreshment Saloon at Prime Street 
Wharf, and, after a collation, took passage on the Balti- 
more cars. The demonstrations along the route of the 
column, on the part of the fire department and citizens, 
were of the most enthusiastic character. Bonfires were 
lighted, fire-bells were rung, and as McGonigle and the 
men of the " Weccacoe,'^ Peto and the " Hope Hose 
Boys," Captain Cook with members of the " Hibernia," 
and many other officers and men were recognized from 
the sidewalks, cheers and hearty good-byes from friends 
and old comrades filled the air. 

After reaching Washington, the regiment was ordered 
to the Virginia side of the Potomac near Chain Bridge, 
where it was placed on fatigue duty with the California 
Kegiment, on the fortifications. 

On the date of the mustering of Colonel Baxter's com- 
mand, the Twenty-Fourth Regiment of three-months' 
men, commanded by Colonel Joshua T. Owen, was 
mustered out. The regiment had served under Gen- 
eral Patterson on the Upper Potomac, in the Shenandoah 
Valley. 

Colonel Owen — subsequently made a brigadier-gen- 
eral for distinguished service in the field — was well cal- 

2* 



14 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

dilated by his generous and genial spirit in camp and 
his bearing in action to gather speedily about him a 
rep-iment for the new call of the President for three 
years, and many of his old command at once signified 
their willingness to re-enlist. A camp of rendezvous 
was established at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, and the 
work of filling the companies commenced. AYith the 
exception of a few recruits from the mining districts of 
Pennsylvania, the men were residents of Philadelphia, 
and mostly of Irish extraction, possessing the soldierly 
qualities of their race, calculated to endure the hardships 
and privations of the march by their robust habits, and 
by their enthusiastic and courageous dispositions well 
fitted for effective service in the charge. This last char- 
acteristic was manifested in a number of actions, and the 
sobriquet ^' Paddy Owen's Riglars,'^ at first applied by 
their comrades in good-natured jests, was made honor- 
able by more than one steady advance with bayonets fixed. 

The companies were mustered into the service of the 
United States on the 19th of August by Colonel E. D. 
Baker, and the regiment was organized by the choice of 
the following field-officers : Joshua T. Owen, of Phila- 
delphia, Colonel ; Dennis O'Kane, of Philadelphia, Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel ; John Devereux, of Philadelphia, Major. 
The men were shortly after armed and equipped. 

On the 17th of September the regiment was sum- 
moned to AVashington by a telegram from the Secretary 
of War. It broke camp and moved at once. Upon its 
arrival at Washington it was ordered to cross the Po- 
tomac and join Colonel Baker's command at Fort Ethan 
Allen. At this place it was reinforced by two skirmish 
companies that had been acting as independent com- 



THE FORMATION. 15 

mands under the name of the Baker Guards. These 
two oro-anizations wore a uniform somew^iat similar to 
that of the Fire Zouaves, except in the color of the 
trimmings, green having been substituted for the scarlet 
of Baxter's men. This force raised the regiment to 
tw^elve companies. The Sixty-Ninth, in addition to 
their State flags, carried, as emblematic of their nation- 
ality, a handsome green flag Avith the arms of Ireland, 
presented by the citizens of Philadelphia; and in many 
an action these standards went in together and honor- 
ably came out side by side. 

Colonel Turner G. Morehead, a prominent and ex- 
ceedingly capable oflicer of the Pennsylvania militia, 
and the commander of the Tw^enty-Second Regiment of 
three-months' men, -was mustered out of service w^ith his 
regiment on the 7th of August, 1861. He at once com- 
menced recruiting a regiment for Baker's Brigade. In 
this work he was assisted by Lieutenant-Colonel Curry 
and Captain J. J. Sperry, as well as by many of the offi- 
cers and men of the Twenty-Second, who were anxious 
again to risk their lives for the preservation of the 
Union. The regiment was organized, Avith the ex- 
ception of Company K, between the 14th of August 
and the 31st of September, 1861, in the city of Phila- 
delphia. Company K w^as formed from a number of 
men enlisted as sappers and miners under the charge of 
Lieutenants Fimple and W. L. Curry, and its organiza- 
tion was completed by the transfer of Captain Martin 
Frost and twenty men from the Sixty-Ninth. Its com- 
pletion took place on the 28th of February, 1862, when 
it was mustered into the One Hundred and Sixth llegi- 
ment as an infantry company. 



10 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

This organization, known at first as the Fifth Cali- 
fornia Regiment, but subsequently as the One Hundred 
and Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, joined the Phila- 
delphia Brigade at Camp Observation, near Poolesville, 
Maryland. With the exception of one or tAVO fine 
companies from the interior of Pennsylvania, it was 
composed mostly of Philadelphians, and although it did 
not have the iclat in its formation belonging to either of 
the other regiments of the brigade, it was their equal in 
morale and discipline. Most of the regimental and 
company officers were familiar with the duties of the 
soldier, and seemed to take a proper interest in the 
development of a high standard of excellence in their 
commands. 



CHAPTER 11. 



CHAIN BRIDGE. 



From the time of their arrival until the end of Sep- 
tember, the regiments were kept actively at work on 
picket and fatigue duty near Chain Bridge, and the men 
began to realize some of the discomforts incidental to a 
change from the pleasant homes of the city to tent-life 
on the rough hill-sides of Virginia. 

Employed as they were, but little attention could be 
given to the instructions of officers, or to the drill and 
discipline of the men. There were occasional company 
drills, and in one instance Colonel Baker attempted to 
manoeuvre the brigade, but the rough character of the 
ground, from which in many places trees had just been 
cut, hindered any profitable exercise. Picketing and 
scouting were of daily occurrence, and to the California 
Regiment particularly hazardous, their uniforms being 
gray, like those of the Confederates. Among the killed 
while in this service was Captain James ^y. Lingenfelter, 
of Company B, Seventy-First Regiment, who was shot 
September 21st. He was one of the officers who had 
come from the Pacific coast to serve with Colonel 
Baker. 

The proximity of the rebel line to the camps of the 
brigade caused the men to feel that they were in a hos- 

17 



18 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

tile country, and assisted them materially in learning 
the duties and habits of the picket. The last arrivals 
looked upon the California men, with their soiled uni- 
forms, as comparative veterans, and were willing listeners 
to their relation of incidents in the campaign at Fortress 
Monroe and in the vicinity of Big Bethel. 

Until the troops learned to distinguish between the 
false and the true reports. Madam Rumor played some 
strange pranks in the camp, and it was amusing to see 
with what singular rapidity false reports would spread, 
and as quickly die away. At one time the enemy would 
be moving on Fort Baker, and the next day report had 
the brigade ordered to Missouri. 

The life of a soldier is one calculated to sharpen the 
percej^tive faculties, and it was but a short time before 
the men became very skeptical in their reception of 
camp news, and even learned to make a fine distinction 
as to the shades of difference between the reports. 
Rumors that had no foundation except in the imagina- 
tion, and which were often started while the company's 
cooks were serving out the rations, were styled ^^ cook- 
house news," whilst the flying camp reports that might 
contain a few grains of truth were called '^chin-chin;" 
and it was frequently asked, when a report had gained 
extensive circulation, to which class it belonged: if it 
was ^^ chin" it was deemed more trustworthy than ^^ cook- 
house." 

In the composition of the regiments all classes of 
society, as well as trades and professions, were repre- 
sented, and there were no duties that soldiers might be 
called upon to perform that did not find men ready to 
step forward fully prepared for the work, even though 



CHAIN BRIDGE. ]9 

it should be the reading of a telegraphic " sounder/' or 
the artistic handling of intrenching tools in the ditch. 
The " eternal fitness of things'' could not always be pre- 
served, and occasionally a young man bred to the law 
found himself in a detail at work in the trenches under 
a non-commissioned officer who knew more about the 
spade than the pen. 

The majority of the men seemed to take to camp life 
with good nature, and gradually learned to place the 
proper estimate of value on their comrades, and the 
officers began to realize that duty to themselves and to 
those under their charge brought no inconsiderable re- 
sponsibility. 

With every day came some new developments of char- 
acter ; men w^ere learning to read those about them, and 
officers were acquiring a better knowledge of the material 
of their commands. On one occasion in a ludicrous 
experience, an officer realized that there might be in the 
rank and file of his com])any men who knew more 
about the tactics of the soldier than he had yet learned 
from " Gilmore" or " Hardee." A special detail had 
been made for headquarters guard, and after the inspec- 
tion and the men had been placed at their posts, the 
sergeant of the guard visited post number one, in front 
of the tent of the general commanding, to ascertain if 
the sentinel fully understood his duties. The man at 
once took the regulation position of ^'arms port," and 
listened carefully to the instructions for tlie guard, only 
replying in response to an inquiry " Whether he had 
ever served in that position before?" that he had, "But 
it was some years since, in front of General Scott's 
headquarters in the city (jf Mexico." 



20 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

The same insurmountable difficulty — scarcity of sup- 
plies — that compelled the Government to issue gray 
uniforms, instead of blue, to the California Regiment 
interfered with the proper equipment of the brigade in 
arms and ammunition, and many of the guns dignified 
by the name of rifles were only flint-lock muskets, 
altered in such a careless manner that it was no unusual 
occurrence for a nipple to blow out with the discharge 
of the piece, to the great danger of the owner. Even 
with these weapons there was not enough to fully arm 
the entire brigade ; and on one reconnoissance Company 
H, of Baxter's Regiment, was supplied with axes, and 
was detailed as a pioneer corps. 

While at work in the trenches, on September 24th, 
the troops had an opportunity of witnessing one of the 
uses of balloons in modern warfare. Four miles dis- 
tant from Fort Ethan Allen, at a station called Falls 
Church, the Confederates had a considerable body of 
men. The United States forces at Arlington Heights 
sent up a captive balloon, and by means of signals di- 
rected the battery at Fort Allen how to range its rifled 
cannon on the camp of the enemy. After a few trials 
shells were thrown with precision, and the Confederates 
were discomfited by an unexpected foe. 

September 28th, at ten p.m., the brigade was ordered 
to march on a night expedition to Munson's Hill. In 
the columns were other commands that had been located 
near us, the whole of the force being in charge of Gen- 
eral Wm. F. Smith. The Seventy-First Regiment, with 
two sections of artillery, had the right; then came the 
Seventy-Second, followed by the Sixty-Ninth. The 
night was dark, and the narrow road along which they 



CHAIN BRIDGE. 21 

marched led for the most part through a dense forest. 
After advancing about three miles, carefully feeling the 
way with skirmishers, a halt was made, and directions 
were given to load, with strict orders to make no noise, 
not even to speak aloud, and the march was resumed. 
While all were wrought up to a pitch of excitement by 
these preparatory orders, an alarm was raised in a por- 
tion of the column, and the men supposing that tlie 
enemy was about to attack, and unable to distinguish in 
the darkness friend from foe, commenced an indiscrim- 
inate firing. Many of the sokliers left the road and 
took to the woods or fiekls, and acted as if their first 
duty was to discharge their rifles at some imaginary 
object. After a few moments, it occurred to most of the 
officers that there might be no good cause for the alarm, 
and the troops were ordered to cease firing and lie down. 
Where captains of companies acted with promptness, 
order was soon restored ; several minutes elapsed, how- 
ever, before the irregular fire entirely (;eased. The actual 
cause of the false alarm, as it proved to be, was never 
ascertained. It was one of those stampedes that took 
place occasionally during the night-marches of the war, 
and Avhich were not confined to new recruits or to either 
army. After the men were rallied, it was ascertained 
that the section of artillery on the right had actually 
been ordered at the first alarm to fire on the troops, but 
was prevented by the doubts in the mind of its com- 
mander. 

A halt was now made, and skirmishers were thrown 
out, who, carefully advancing through woods in the 
front, halted when they saw what aj)pcared to be a row 
of camp fires belonging to the enemy. At daybreak 

3 



22 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

the lights were found to be those of the Ninth Massa- 
chusetts, part of another column that had been moving 
on a parallel road. Thus ended this eventful night, full 
of errors and sorrows. The entire loss was seventeen 
men killed and thirty wounded. As this was the first 
time the brigade was under fire, it developed some new 
phases of character in both officers and men ; but alto- 
gether the impression was not unfavorable for new 
troops. 

On Sunday, 29th of September, the command w^as 
located in a field awaiting orders or the enemy, and at 
four P.M. was marched back to the old camp. Some of 
the columns engaged in this advance took Munson's 
Hill ; but the Philadelphia Brigade felt that its share 
of w^ork had more of disaster than glory. 

One of the first duties of a soldier is to subordinate 
his will to that of his military superiors ; to obey 
orders implicitly and ask no questions. Already this 
discipline w^as beginning to produce its proper effect; 
but there were some few who thought, aloud, that a 
midnight advance over unfamiliar ground by troops 
only a few days in the service, having line-officers with 
little, if any, experience, was no evidence of wisdom 
on the part of the general who gave the preliminary 
order. 

September 30th, the brigade recrossed the Potomac 
and marched to Great Falls, in Maryland, a distance of 
nine miles, where it halted. October 1st, started at noon 
and reached Rockville by night. October 2d, marched 
to Seneca Mills, — part of the time through a heavy 
rain. The men by this time appeared' to be well used 
to campaigning. October 3d, reached a point four miles 



CHAIN BRIDGE. 23 

beyond Poolesville, Montgomery County, Maryland, 
where tents were pitched and Colonel Baker gave verbal 
orders that each company might use iQii fence-rails for 
fuel, and no more, as the command would soon move 
forward. 



CHAPTER III. 

ball's bluff. 

Day after day passed, and the first allowance of fence- 
rails had been turned into ashes along with many others 
that had not been so formally set aside ; still there was 
no sign of a movement. Kelieved from the fatigue and 
picket duty that formed the routine at Chain Bridge, 
there was abundant opportunity for drill and equipment. 
Quartermasters of regiments were busied in procuring 
the completion of outfits, and ofiicers were occupied in 
perfecting their comj^anies. The regulation system of 
guard duties was strictly followed, including the "grand 
rounds'' at night and the patrol outside the camp limits 
by day. 

Colonel Baker personally exercised the officers in the 

manual of arms as well as in the school of the battalion, in 

both of which he displayed considerable knowledge and 

proficiency. A trifling incident occurred during one of 

the drills which served to illustrate an important trait in 

his military character, — promptness in obeying an order 

without stopping to consider either its necessity or the 

means for its accomplishment. At the time referred to, 

the officers were formed in line, drilling in the manual, 

and at the position of "arms at order" ; when Colonel 

Baker gave the command, "support arms,'' omitting the 
24 



BALL'S BLUFF. 25 

intermediate position of arms at a shoulder. Some 
obeyed the order by going regularly through the drill, 
from one position to another ; others kept their pieces 
resting on the ground, and looked at their commander, 
with a smile at his error. Baker stood erect, looking 
the picture of determination, and said, with an emphasis 
not to be mistaken, "I Avant the officers to understand 
that when an order is given it must be obeyed.'^ 

While at this camp the command was designated the 
Third Brigade of the Corps of Observation, the divi- 
sion being under the command of General Charles P. 
Stone. A considerable number of recruits joined the 
command, and one regiment (Colonel Baxter's) contained 
fifteen companies, with an aggregate of fourteen hundred 
and eighty-seven men. This regiment had passed through 
the campaign thus far without any casualties. On the 
17th of October the first death occurred in its ranks. 
On a dismal, rainy day, one of those calculated to bring 
into the minds of the soldiers thoughts of home, and 
mental pictures of more cheerful scenes, one of the en- 
listed men, who had been sick with a fever, died in the 
camp hospital. He had all the attention the surgeon 
could give him, but in his case, as in that of many others 
after him, ^Hhere was dearth of woman's care." This 
event, being the first of the kind, created considerable 
thoughtfulness, strangely at variance with the hardened 
feelings produced by after-experience on the battle-field. 

October 21st, at one o'clock a.m.. Colonel Baker, in 
command of the brigade, received an order from Gen- 
eral Stone for the right battalion of the California Begi- 
ment, consisting of eight companies, — A, C, D, G, H, 

L, N, and F, — to march so as to reach Conrad's Ferry 

3* 



26 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

by daylight. This order was put into execution by 
Lieutenant-Colonel Wistar, commanding the regiment. 
On his arrival at the ferry, he reported to General Stone 
and awaited instructions. While thus halting, he ascer- 
tained that our forces with two guns occupied Harrison's 
Island, and also that an expedition of about five hundred 
men under Colonel Devens of the Fifteenth Massachu- 
setts, accompanied by Colonel Lee and one hundred men 
of the Twentieth Massachusetts, had crossed to the Vir- 
ginia shore at an early hour, intending to advance 
towards Leesburg. Thinking it probable that the 
Seventy-First Battalion might be ordered to reinforce 
Devens, Colonel Wistar moved them nearer the river 
and began an inspection of the facilities for crossing. 
From the Maryland side to the island were two large 
scows, capable of holding about forty-five men each ; 
from the island to the Virginia side there was a ferry- 
boat, larger than the scows, that would hold about sixty 
men; and, along with this, a small metallic life-boat. 
These means of transj)ortation Wistar increased by the 
addition of a boat lifted out of its place in the canal, 
and run down the bank into the river, by the men of 
his regiment. This made it possible to ferry over at 
one time — all the boats being in use — about two hun- 
dred men. At about nine o'clock orders were received 
for the battalion to cross the river and join forces with 
Colonel Devens. 

At this moment Colonel Baker arrived, and, ascertain- 
ing the orders received by Wistar, rode down to see Gen- 
eral Stone. In a short time he returned, and, after dis- 
patching an officer to order the remainder of the brigade 
under Colonel Baxter to move at once, personally superin- 



BALL'S BLUFF. 27 

tended the crossing, which liad already commenced. By 
two P.M. six companies had been landed on the island, 
and one company had crossed to the Virginia shore. In 
the mean time, Colonel Baker had reached the island 
and taken the chief command, with full discretionary 
power to reinforce the party on the advance, or to with- 
draw all the forces to the Maryland side. The following 
order Avas found on the body of Colonel Baker after his 
death : 

"Headquarters, Corps of" [here the bullet struck, and a 
word is missing] Edward's Ferry, October 21st, 18G1. 

" Colonel E. D. Baker, Commander of Brigade : 

" Colonel, — In case of heavy firing in front of Har- 
rison's Island, you will advance the California Regiment 
of your brigade, or retire the regiments under Colonels 
Lee and Devens, now on the" [almost illegible by blood] 
"Virginia side of the river, at your discretion, assuming 
command on arrival. 

"Very respectfully. Colonel, your obedient servant, 
" Chas. p. Stone, 

" Brigadier-General Commanding." 

Heavy firing was heard, and Colonel Baker decided 
to reinforce Devens. Leaving instructions to forward 
the artillery as quickly as possible, he hastened over to 
the Virginia side, and, assuming command, began to 
make the dispositions. Companies A and D, under Cap- 
tain Markoe, were sent forward on the left as skirmish- 
ers to ascertain the position of the enemy's right flank. 
They had advanced but a short distance when they came 
suddenly on the right of his line of battle concealed in 
a dense wood, and were at once hotly engaged. The 



28 



HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 



action thus brought on soon became general. The ground 
on which Baker's forces were compelled to give battle 
was very unfavorable for them. It was an open field, 
—a sort of oblong square, the length running at right 
angles with the river,— bordered on three sides by a 
dense forest, and terminating on the fourth at the brow 
of the high bluff on the shore. 

For nearly two hours the action continued with vary- 
ing results, the enemy being generally met with the most 
determined spirit. But the odds were too great, and, 
gradually losing ground, our forces retired slowly to the 
edge of the bank. At five p.m. many of the men and 
officers had fallen ; among the latter the brave Colonel 
Wistar, shot in three places, was borne from the field. 
At the same time fell Bramhall and French, of the 
artillery, who were also carried away severely wounded. 
Just then a still greater disaster occurred, the gallant 
Baker, who had been seen first on the left and then on 
the right, wherever the battle raged most severely, with 
his sword unsheathed,— encouraging the men by his 
example and words,— fell, covered with wounds. His 
death must have been instantaneous, and no language 
could more fitly describe it than his own prophetic 
words uttered in his last address before he entered the 
service. The body of the dead commander was safely 
and tenderly carried to the river, and ferried over to the 
spot which he had left but a short time before to " draw 
a sword never yet dishonored.'' As the venerable form 
was borne along the line of young men standing on the 
river-bank, who for hours had been compelled to re- 
main as silent witnesses of the terrible work in which 
their comrades were engaged, hundreds with tears in 



BALL'S BLUFF. 29 

their eyes looked ou his livid face and said, with sor- 
rowful hearts, ^'Father Baker is dead; his brigade 
loved him." 

Immediately after the death of Colonel Baker the 
enemy made a determined advance, and, our forces being 
thrown into great confusion, the scene at once became 
appalling. A portion of the force endeavored to cut 
their way through to Edward's Ferry, but were met and 
repulsed by a Mississippi regiment. It now became a 
wild and disorderly retreat, men rushing down the steep 
bank to reach the boat, closely pursued by the victors, 
relentlessly firing into their masses. The only boat be- 
tween the Virginia side and the island had been sunk 
while returning with wounded, and most of those on 
board were drowned. Communication being thus cut 
oif, one of the officers noAV in command gave orders for 
such as wished to try to save themselves to throw away 
their pieces and plunge into the river, wdiile all others 
should come and surrender with him. 

The color-sergeant of the Seventy-First, seeing that 
all w^as lost, stripped his colors from the staff, and, wind- 
ing them around his person, plunged into the river. He 
clung to them until nearly exhausted, and, to save his 
life, he cast the flag away, never to be recovered. 

Soon the poor fellows who escaped from this terrible 
affair, naked and shivering with cold, began to join the 
rest of the troops on the Maryland side, and the fight 
at BalFs Bluff was over. At midnight the brigade, 
with the survivors of the California Battalion, returned 
to camp sad and depressed at the death of their brave 
old leader, and the loss of many gallant comrades. 

Of five hundred and twenty of the Seventy-First 



30 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

who entered this engagement, three hundred and twelve 
men were lost. Captain Harvey, A. A. G. of the bri- 
gade, and Lieutenant Williams were killed; Captain 
Otter was either killed or drowned while crossing the 
stream ; and Captains Markoe and Keffer were wounded 
and taken prisoners. 



CHAPTEK IV. 

CAMP OBSERVATION. 

Beigadier- General W. W. Burns, of the regular 
army, was ordered to the command of the brigade after 
the death of Colonel Baker. The same camping ground 
was occupied as before the BalFs Bluff aifair, and the 
troops were employed in drilling and manoeuvres when- 
ever the weather would permit. A detail of four com- 
panies did picket duty on the Potomac from Conrad's 
Ferry on the left to the Point of Bocks on the right, 
connecting at the latter place with Colonel Geary's 
Twenty-Eighth Pennsylvania Begiment. This work 
was continued during the winter, and had so "little 
excitement about it, especially during the day, that it 
became to those so engaged very monotonous. 

It was made the duty of the senior officer of this 
picket to send hourly reports by means of a cavalry- 
man to the headquarters of General Stone at Pooles- 
ville. There was no enemy to be seen on the other side, 
unless a stray citizen, occasionally gratifying his curi- 
osity, could be construed into a rebel. The river always 
seemed to flow along at the same rate of speed, and sel- 
dom at this time of the year changed its volume. Under 
these conditions, it required some ingenuity on the part 

of an officer with Ji limited vocabulary to prevent his 

31 



32 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

reports from exhibiting a dull uniformity. The excite- 
ment about the picket-guard to the young soldier began, 
however, at night, when all are on the alert, and every 
little stir in the darkness is magnified out of all propor- 
tion. An owl screaming in the distance, or a muskrat 
plunging into the water, causes suspicion of the pres- 
ence of an enemy ; and if joined to these noises there 
is the sound of a rifle accidentally discharged, the fears 
are almost confirmed ; but daylight comes, and all is 
quiet on the Potomac. 

Early one morning, after a night somewhat disturbed 
by false alarms, the senior officer of one of the details 
was informed by an old resident that, from appearances, 
the river would certainly rise one foot by night-fall. 
This hint was a good one, and would prove valuable to 
General Stone and break the monotony. The officer 
was a man of prudence, and resolved not to overwhelm 
his commander at once. Eight or ten reports were pre- 
jiared and numbered consecutively, bringing the river 
gradually to the proper height ; and with pleasing con- 
fidence the day was devoted to a tour of hunting. Be- 
fore the departure, the lieutenant in charge of the line 
was directed to forward the papers through the day in 
regular order. When evening brought the return to 
duty, the captain was mortified to learn that, instead of 
the anticipated rise, the river had fallen. It is not likely 
that General Stone ever discovered the value of these 
reports, or based any important movement on the in- 
formation contained therein, and it is equally improbable 
that the officer ever repeated a similar experiment. 

General Burns, the new commander, made at first an 
impression somewhat unfavorable, owing to his strict 



CAMP OBSERVATION. 33 

enforcement of discipline; but the men soon learned its 
value in promoting efficiency, and as time wore away, 
and they witnessed the impartiality of his decisions, he 
became exceedingly popular, and was welcomed as the 
successor of the lamented Baker. 

Winter had now begun, and it became apparent that 
the active campaign for 1861 was over, so far as the 
Corps of Observation was concerned. By the power of 
ready invention and the use of various camp devices, 
the troops succeeded in making their tents tolerably 
comfortable, and with the addition of blankets and 
overcoats were well protected from the severity of the 
season. The full ration of food was regularly issued, 
supplemented occasionally with a box of " good things'' 
from home, and the daily mail brought letters and 
papers. In spite of these comforts, however, there was 
considerable restlessness and anxiety manifested by 
some, arising from the fact that for months the regi- 
ments had not received any i^ayments, and men were 
serving who knew that those at home, depending upon 
them for support, Avere suffering for want of funds. 
This delay in settlement arose from a misunderstanding 
between the State authorities and the AVar Department 
concerning the muster of the regiments, and was finally 
settled by the issue of an order " that the muster of the 
regiments of Baker's Brigade, although irregular, is 
hereby authorized and approved." 

During the uncertainty existing previous to this order, 
there was an increasing desire on the part of large num- 
bers to see their homes, if only for a brief period. Nos- 
talgia threatened to become epidemic, and it affected all 
classes. The only certain cure for this disease was a 

4 



34 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

furlough, and this was freely administered until, by the 
failure of some of the convalescents to return promptly, 
the patience of the general became exhausted, and he 
indorsed on an application for leave of absence, " Re- 
fused . On account of the frequent absence Avithout 
leave, no more furloughs will be granted until the troops 
learn that duty is a sentiment of honor." 

Believing that soldiers should be fertile in expedients 
and audacious in action, applications were renewed, with 
telegrams annexed from sick friends, or documents from 
lawyers imploring the presence of clients ; but the gen- 
eral stood firm, and only permitted absence in extreme 
cases, and home-sickness soon disappeared. 

The spirit infused by General Burns found a ready 
response in the regimental officers, and they disjjlayed 
a worthy spirit of emulation in their endeavors to im- 
prove the excellence of their commands. 

The Seventy-First, under the command of Majors 
Parrish and Smith, was reorganized. Lieutenant-Col- 
onel AYistar, absent with wounds, was appointed to the 
colonelcy, and vacancies among the company officers 
were filled by promotions. Additional recruits arrived 
from Philadelphia, and were placed under drill instruc- 
tion with competent non-commissioned officers, of whom 
this regiment had a full supply. Some of the depleted 
companies were consolidated, and the organization speed- 
ily recovered from its heavy losses at Munson's Hill and 
Ball's Bluff, and attained great efficiency. 

The Sixty-lS^inth, under Colonel Joshua T. Owen, 
became rivals of the others in acquiring a knowledge of 
the duties of a soldier. This I'egiment became noted 
for its faithfulness on guard and picket duty, and espec- 



CAMP OBSERVATION. 35 

iallv for the tenacity of the men while servinii; on these 
duties in literally construing an order. 

Shortly after pitching tents at Camp Observation, 
Colonel Owen passed the number one post of his camp 
at night without giving the countersign, and the sentry, 
for his neglect in failing to halt him, was punished by 
confinement in the guard-house. A few nights after this 
event, the colonel again attempted to enter, and on this 
occasion did not have the mystic word. He was promptly 
halted, and to the " Who comes here ?" of the sentinel, 
replied, " Your colonel.'' " Advance, kernal, and give 
the countersign." " I haven't it, but you know me." 
-"Faith, I know your horse, but I don't know you," 
was the reply, and calling the corporal of the guard, the 
colonel was admitted. 

The other regiments were each furnished with a band^ 
which added materially to the attractiveness of their 
evening parades ; but the Sixty-Ninth derived its inspi- 
ration from the martial music of the fife and drum 
corps, led by a skillful musician named P. Moran. This 
leader was full of Irish wit and humor, and was so well 
known as master of his instrument that hundreds of 
soldiers from other camps gathered in front of the 
parade-ground when "the troop beat off" to hear 
" Paddy Moran, iha fifer of the Sixty-Ninth." 

The One Hundred and Sixth, under Colonel j\Iore- 
head, had joined the brigade just before BalFs Bluff' 
and was present at that affair. The organization of its 
field and staff was completed in December by the ap- 
pointment of Major John H. Stover, who was specially 
commissioned by Governor Curtin. This officer joined 
with Lieutenant-Colonel W. L. Curry in giving cordial 



36 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

support to the measures of the commander. Copies of 
" Hardee's Tactics" were issued to the line officers, and 
the men were carefully drilled according to the regu- 
lation. 

The Fire Zouaves, now changed in name to the 
Seventy- Second Pennsylvania, had their drill-ground 
immediately in front of brigade headquarters, and as 
they were manoeuvred as a regiment by Colonel Baxter, 
or formed for dress-parade, they presented a very attrac- 
tive sight. This was especially the case in brigade 
drills, when the bright colors of their uniform pre- 
sented a handsome contrast to the appearance of the 
other troops. Colonel Baxter had many competent 
officers Avho realized the character of the work before 
them and endeavored to properly prepare their men. 
In addition to the manual of arms and evolutions in 
line, some of the companies were drilled as skirmishers 
and made familiar with the call of the bugle. 

The time occupied in this camp was the longest period 
the brigade remained at any one place, but it passed 
rapidly, and much of it Avas not wasted. It might have 
been called Camp " Preparation,'' for such it really was. 
The troops before coming here had seen enough of active 
warfare to know its reality, and to teach them that the 
life of a soldier is one of hardship and danger. Officers 
began to know the character of their commands, while 
comrades formed attachments for each other only to be 
broken by death. The brigade was in splendid con- 
dition, and when the order came to move it Avas ready 
to bid farewell to Camp Observation. 



CHAPTER V. 



ACROSS THE POTOMAC. 



Brigadier-General John Sedowick, a graduate 
of West Point and an officer of the regular army who 
had served with distinction in the Mexican w^ar, was 
now appointed to command the division in place of 
General Stone. Under the new organization of the 
Army of the Potomac, the Second Corps was commanded 
by Major-General Edwin V. Sumner, and contained the 
three divisions of Richardson, Sedgwick, and Blenker. 

On February 27th, 1861, the Second Division was 
temporarily detached to assist in the movement of Gen- 
eral Banks against Winchester. This day Avas cold and 
wintry ; the bleak winds appeared to penetrate every 
place of shelter, and the ground was covered with snow 
and ice to such an extent that the duty of pickets and 
guards was rendered very arduous. It was one of the 
last days on which an order to prepare for moving might 
be anticipated, but such an order did come, and prepara- 
tions were begun at once. Word wius quickly passed 
from one regiment to another that this was to be the last 
night in Camp Observation, and that the brigade would 
move at daylight. 

Rations were issued to be prepared by the company 
cooks for the haversacks, and each man received his 

4* 37 



38 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

allowance of ammunition. Soldiers were busy packing 
their knapsacks so as to hold as much extra clothing as 
possible, and at the same time some useful relics of the 
okl tent or " ranche." Officers spent the evening in 
arranging their luggage so as to carry in addition to 
their military wardrobe as many of the luxuries of 
camp as trunks could be made to hold, and some, no 
doubt influenced by the temperature of the night, deter- 
mined to make room in the wagons for " Sibley" stoves 
or " Morning-Stars." Others found places for mess- 
chests with cooking utensils, Dutch ovens, and many 
other cherished institutions that might help to make 
" grim-visaged war smooth his wrinkled front." Each 
company was allowed two wagons for transportation, but 
these failed to supply the modest demands made upon 
the quartermaster. 

The Philadelphia Brigade possessed, as Colonel Baker 
used to say, " the courage," and there was no question 
about its soldierly bearing and discipline; but it had 
not yet acquired the first great lesson in active warfare 
that so often brings success, — rapid movements in light 
marching order. This ignorance among the regimental 
officers and their men Avas not to be Avondered at. Many 
of the prominent officers of the army Avho could quote 
from " Jomini on the Art of War," had failed to read 
the saying of Marshal Saxe, " Success is in the legs of 
the soldier." From necessity the enemy had imbibed 
this maxim, and more than once proved its worth against 
the Union armies. The experience of a short campaign 
in the field wrought a Avonderful change, and the troops 
soon learned to distinguish betAveen the AA'ants of neces- 
sity and those of imagination. 



ACROSS THE POTOMAC. 39 

A fe\v montlis later the brigade passed over the same 
camp, the meu carrying no knapsacks, and only a woolen 
blanket with one change of underclothing wrapped 
within it, and the officers had thrown away their extra 
luggage ; the roads were no longer blocked w^ith over- 
loaded wagons, and the march, though more rapid, was 
not near so fatiguing. 

On the morning of the 28th, the column moved slow^ly 
away, and as it passed over the hills surrounding the 
camp many paused to look for the last time on the 
familiar grounds, not without regret at the severance of 
agreeable associations, and at recollections of pleasant 
hours passed around the camp-fires ; nor without hope- 
ful anticipations, mingled with serious thoughts, that 
the struggle to come might bring success to the right. 

Late in the day the troops reached Adamstown, a 
small village on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and 
bivouacked until the morning of March 2d, when they 
were transported by cars to Sandy Hook, opposite Har- 
per's Ferry. The advance of Banks's column had oc- 
cupied this place without much opposition a short time 
before our arrival, and already held possession of the 
heights of Bolivar, with skirmishers advanced toward 
Charlestown. The brigade crossed on a ponton bridge 
that had been laid by the engineers under Captain 
Duane, and for the first time in its history the entire 
organization stood on the ^'sacred soil." 

Har})er's Ferry, at the junction of the Shenandoah 
and Potomac, — a place of great natural beauty, — was the 
scene of some of the gloomiest events of the rebellion. 
In itself it was of no military importance, and was in 
turn occupied for a brief time by either army. At this 



40 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

early period of the war it gave evidence of desolation. 
The armory in which ten thousand muskets had been 
made annually, and the arsenal where thousands of 
stands of arms had been stored, were a mass of ruins ; 
not even the vestige of a window-sill or cornice of a 
roof was left unburned. The old engine-house that 
John Brown occupied during his raid was still standing, 
and, with its great iron doors ^\"ide open toward the 
South, — fixed in their immovable position with rusted 
hinges, — seemed to say, '^ His soul goes marching on." 

The majority of the citizens had left their homes to 
the mercy of the armies shortly after the destruction of 
the arsenal. In most cases they had fled without taking 
their household goods, and as the soldiers were ordered 
to be quartered in these deserted places, it is probable 
that the value of their contents w^as not enhanced. 

March 2d, Sedgwick moved to Bolivar Heights, where 
a camp was formed, and the men again found shelter 
under their old Sibley tents. As the transfer from the 
three-days' residence under roofs w^as made in a drifting 
snow-storm, there were some who failed to appreciate 
the change. 

The commissaries had not yet learned how to supply 
the troops regularly, and while there was an unneces- 
sary profusion of some of the rations, there was a 
scarcity of others. To remedy this evil a few of the 
private soldiers made unauthorized drafts on the farm- 
yards of the valley. Many of the residents of this sec- 
tion of Virginia were the w^orst and meanest of guerrillas ; 
men who had no love for honorable warfare, but who 
would fire into an ambulance filled with the wounded, 
or act as spies when there was no risk of danger ; and 



ACROSS THE POTOMAC. 41 

it is likely these facts prevented regimental commanders 
from inquiring where the men found their extra rations. 

On the 7th an advance was made to a position on the 
Winchester Pike, beyond CharlestoAvn. From this place 
pickets were sent out to Shenandoah Springs, and a re- 
connoissance was made on the left of the main column. 
From indications it appeared probable that the enemy 
under Stonewall Jackson would make a stand at Win- 
chester, and Sedgwick^s entire division, with the excep- 
tion of a detail of the Second Brigade, was hurried for- 
ward as reinforcements. This detail was left to hold 
Charlestown and act as a provost guard. 

Many of the inhabitants of the place were of the same 
treacherous and insolent character as the farmers in the 
country about, and it required the exercise of patience 
and good humor to prevent frequent collisions. The 
court-house and public buildings were occupied by the 
men as barracks. In the jail, made memorable by its 
associations with old John Brown, were a number of 
prisoners, serving out various terms, and as the soldiers 
had no rations to spare for civilians, these Avorthies were 
allowed to go free. This jail delivery was not effected 
until after a strong protest had been entered by a couple 
of tenacious individuals, one of whom Avas the jailer, 
Avlio had carried the keys of " old Ossawattomie^s" cell, 
and the other a middle-aged prisoner; the former did not 
want to lose his occupation, and the latter clung to his 
home. 

The duty assigned to the portion of the brigade occupy- 
ing Charlestown, although not attended with any special 
dangers, imposed continual watching day and niglit. 
There were but few among the white population of the 



42 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

place who did not hate the flag they saw, and longed to 
take revenge the moment an opportunity offered. As 
the sentries walked the pavement, ladies in passing would 
gather their garments about them and step into the 
street. 

Occasionally one of the little band of Unionists living 
in the town would stealthily slip into quarters and give 
information of a spy or concealed Confederate soldier ; 
and on one occasion they Avere sure the detail would be 
attacked that night. This news seemed hardly probable, 
but, to be prepared, extra dispositions were made, and all 
were on the alert. This night seemed more quiet than 
others until early morning, when the reserve were aroused 
by pickets bringing in a train of wagons, composed of a 
variety of vehicles, drawn by all sorts of animals, and 
containing contrabands of both sexes and of all ages, 
varying from the little "pickaninny^' to the gray-haired 
"boy.'' They were burdened with an endless variety of 
household goods, belonging to the persons from whom 
they had fled, and it was evident they had left their old 
homes forever. These slaves were overjoyed at meeting 
the guard, and some of them, with tears, cried out, " We 
hab come to work for Massa Linkum." 

Hundreds of these contrabands came into the town 
while the brigade was there, and were lodged and fed 
until an opportunity offered to send them to Washing- 
ton. Their numbers soon filled every part of the jail, 
and in the sound of their voices the cell of old John 
Brown seemed responding to the language of the engine- 
house at the ferry, by repeating the words of Milton, — 

"This jail 1 count the house of libert}'-, to thine." 



ACROSS THE POTOMAC. 43 

Stonewall Jackson having retired from Winchester, 
the services of Sedgwick's Division were no longer re- 
quired by General Banks, and it was ordered to join the 
corps. Colonel Maulsby's Maryland regiment occupied 
Charlestown, and relieved the detachment of Burns's 
Brigade. Our troops had entered this place as victors, 
and had remained as guards over an excited people, but 
their conduct and discipline had so impressed the citi- 
zens that an application was made for their continuance, 
which, of course, was refused. 

March 15th, the entire division again encamped on 
Bolivar Heights, awaiting orders. 

March 23d, after spending a tedious week in the same 
camp, tents were struck, and the division recrossed to 
Sandy Hook, where it took passage in freight cars for 
Washington, and joined the other portion of the corps. 
March 27th, moved to Alexandria, preparatory to 
embarking for Fortress Monroe. At this place the 
^^Sibleys" were exchanged for small "shelter" tents, and 
orders were also issued limitino: the amount of bair^ao^e 
to be carried, and reducing the allowance of wagons. 
This began to look like work. 

In front of Alexandria were lying scores of vessels, 
prepared to transport the Army of the Potomac, about 
to commence the first great movement of the war. Over 
one hundred thousand men, fifteen thousand horses, fifty 
batteries, with wagons and ambulances, ponton trains, 
and all manner of stores necessary for an army of this 
size were to be carried by water. It was one of the 
greatest undertakings of the war, and no operation of 
the Government more fully illustrated the power of its 
resources or the executive ability of its leaders. In the 



44 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

early history of the Republic our brigade with its six 
thousand men would have formed an army of itself, but 
in the mass of soldiers continually passing to the front 
it seemed the merest fraction of the whole. 

March 28th, the four regiments were embarked on 
ocean steamers and started down the river. During the 
three days required for the trip there w^as but little com- 
fort for those on board, as the men were literally stowed 
in every part of the vessels. All seemed to bear the in- 
convenience with good nature, except on the first day at 
meal-time, when there was a little grumbling at the lack 
of facilities to cook their food. Large caldrons had been 
provided to boil the coifee, and a novel invention soon 
helped to overcome the other difficulties. The raw bacon 
carried in the haversacks was cut into slices, bayonets 
fixed on the guns were used as spits, and the immense 
stacks of the steamer furnished the broiler. It was an 
amusing sight to see the men stand in turns around this 
greasy pipe and press their pork against its sides until it 
was done to a crisp ; but the food was relished just as 
well as if it had been prepared in the regular way, and 
the operation, along with many other funny doings, 
helped to while away the tedious hours spent on the 
passage down the Potomac. 



CHAPTER yi. 

YOEKTOWN. 

The past winter had been a season of vast prepara- 
tion by the United States Government. The illusions 
existing in the minds of the Union leaders during the 
early part of the rebellion as to the character and prob- 
able duration of the war were fast being dissolved. The 
uprising of the South was no longer looked upon by 
the thoughtful men of the North as a mere rebellion of 
discontented citizens against their Government, to be 
easily put down by a proper display of force, or as an 
aifair that would end in ninety days ; but had assumed 
proportions of far greater magnitude. The disaster at' 
Bull Run, with a number of minor affairs of the same 
character, had drawn serious attention to the importance 
and extent of the measures necessary for its suppression. 
The formation of armies and the collection of war ma- 
terials were begun upon a scale commensurate with the 
greatness of a conflict between two powerful rival na- 
tions. Campaigns were planned for the spring of 1862 
as against large armies led by skillful generals, familiar 
with all the rules of strategy and operating near their 
base of supplies; and commanders had begun to realize 
that the seat of Avar where battles were to be fought was 
one familiar to the enemy, and to be reached by means 

5 45 



4(j HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

of roads and water-courses passing through a hostile 
population. 

The first great movement of the Army of the Po- 
tomac gave evidence, in its planning and preparations, 
of a careful determination to merit success. The base 
of operations — Fortress Monroe — was well-nigh impreg- 
nable, and easy of access to our fleet and supply-ves- 
sels ; and should our army meet with disaster, which no 
one seemed to anticipate, it could, if necessary, take 
shelter under the protection of the immense guns of the 
fortress. The objective point Avas Richmond. 

Early in February, an expedition of four brigades, 
under General Burnside, had left Fortress Monroe and 
attacked Koanoke Island, which it captured, with three 
thousand prisoners, together with a large number of 
guns and war material. In addition to this event, the 
new Monitor, a few days before our arrival, had its 
memorable fight with the Confederate ram Merrimac, 
and so disabled her as to render it probable she would 
not again annoy our vessels lying in that vicinity. These 
successes, joined with news of others from the western 
armies, had created enthusiasm among our troops, and 
led them to hope for still greater victories. 

Upon landing, INIarch 31st, at Fortress Monroe, we 
found that the first division of the grand army had ar- 
rived at that place on the 17th of March, and had been 
rapidly followed by others, until fifty thousand men and 
one hundred guns had already arrived. To those who 
had not yet seen so large an assemblage of troops, it 
seemed as if this portion of the Peninsula was filled 
with soldiers. On the 4th of April, the movement of 
our division be^j-an bv an advance toward Yorktown. 



YORK TOWN. 47 

The section of country known as the Peninsuki is an 
isthmus formed by the York and James Ilivers, varvins: 
in width from seven to fifteen miles, and about fifty 
miles in length. It is low and flat ; in most places 
water can be obtained by digging three or four feet. It 
has an abundance of marshes and streams, and is heavily 
timbered with pines ; under the most favorable cir- 
cumstances it would not appear in itself to be a land 
worth fighting for, and this impression was made more 
prominent as the column advanced. 

Everywhere on the route were to be seen indications 
of the waste of war. The little village of Hampton, a 
short distance from the fort, which had the appearance 
of having once been a place of delightful resort, and 
around which clustered many historical reminiscences of 
great interest, was a scene of ruin and desolation. Its 
public buildings and hotel were destroyed, and in place 
of its homes were blackened walls and heaps of cinders. 
The venerable church, built in colonial times and stand- 
ing out of danger from the conflagration of the village, 
was not spared, and even the grave-yard, with its over- 
turned monuments and broken tablets, gave evidence of 
the marked determination of the enemy to make the 
land a barren waste for the invaders. Similar sights 
were presented along the entire march to Big Bethel. 
Houses, barns, and bridges were all gone, and fences had 
been torn away to be placed in piles and burned to 
ashes. Passing scenes like these one could well inter- 
pret the line of the poet, '^ Cry havoc ! and let slip the 
dogs of war." 

At the time of the- advance on the Peninsula by the 
van-guard of McClellan, the force of the enemy directly 



48 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

opposed was estimated to number about eleven thousand 
men, and was under the command of General J. B. Ma- 
gruder, who had defeated a Union force ten months be- 
fore this at Big Bethel, and who was the reputed author 
of the desolation of Hampton and its vicinity. Against 
this force General McClellan was advancing in two col- 
umns, — one along the Yorktown road, and the other by 
way of Warwick. These were commanded respectively 
by Generals Heintzelman and Keyes. In the right 
column were the divisions of Fitz John Porter and 
Hamilton of the Third Corps, and of Sedgwick of the 
Second Corps. The latter was the only division of its 
corps that had yet landed. Richardson's Division joined 
us shortly after; but the division of Blenker had been 
permanently detached and ordered to General Fremont 
by President Lincoln. 

The Second, under Sedgwick, destined to earn during 
its connection with the army an enviable reputation for 
its gallantry in action, was composed of some of the 
best of the three-years' regiments. The First Minne- 
sota, Seventh Michigan, Forty-Second (Tammany) and 
Eighty-Second New York, Fifteenth, Nineteenth, and 
Twentieth Massachusetts, and other regiments of like 
character made for themselves and the command a na- 
tional reputation. Between these regiments and the 
Philadelphians there soon sprung up an intimacy and a 
generous spirit of emulation. In all their struggles 
with the foe they stood shoulder to shoulder. By the 
necessities of war and the loss of officers, each of the 
brigades were in turn commanded by regimental officers 
from the others, — Colonels Baxter, Morehead, and Owen 
frequently commanding the First and Third Brigades ; 



YORKTO WN. 49 

while the Second, in the absence of senior officers of 
regiments, was occasionally led by a colonel from New 
York or Massachnsetts: 

The advance pushed forward, hoping to strike Ma- 
gruder before he was reinforced by Johnston from 
Richmond, or had succeeded in perfecting a line of de- 
fense. The first night of the movement (April 4th) a 
halt was made by the right column at Big Bethel, where 
General McClellan, who was accompanying it, made his 
headquarters ; at the same time, the left was at the little 
village of ^yarwick Conrt-House. On the 5th, the col- 
umn again moved forward, meeting but little opposition, 
except from an occasional cavalry-picket, until late in 
the day, when each column found itself confronted by 
Magruder's position before Yorktown. 

This place previous to the war was a village of a few 
hundred inhabitants, and was a port of entry, having a 
respectable amount of shipping. It is situated about 
seventy miles southeast of Richmond, upon rising 
ground on the south bank of the York Biver, eleven 
miles from its mouth. 

From Yorktown, Magruder had extended a fortified 
line reaching along the AYarwick to the James Biver. 
The former stream rises near Yorktown and, flowing 
across the Peninsula, empties into the James. This line 
had been selected with excellent judgment. The passage 
of the York Biver on the enemy's left was obstructed 
by the heavy guns at Yorktown and the water-bat- 
teries at Gloucester Point directly opposite, while the 
right was equally guarded by the works on James Biver. 
The distance from the ri":ht to the left of Ma<i;ruder's 
position was eight miles. The approach to it was by 



50 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

single roads, heavily obstructed, leading through marshes 
and dense tracts of pine. Through the marshes or 
swamps were running streams of water that had been 
turned in some places into artificial ponds, and at other 
points preparations had been made to release suddenly 
a large body of water and overwhelm an attacking 
party. The entire space in front was exceedingly ad- 
vantageous for defense and unfavorable for offensive 
operations. 

On the morning of the 6th, in order to ascertain the 
precise position of the works in our front, General Burns 
was ordered to make a reconnoissance, and the Seventy- 
Second and One Hundred and Sixth Regiments were 
selected for the purpose. 

An operation of this character is one of the most 
interesting connected with field-movements, and when 
properly made under the direction of a competent and 
careful officer the information obtained is often of great 
value to the commanding officer. If the reverse is the 
case, and reports of observations are made that cannot 
be verified, as in one instance quite fresh in the memory 
of some of the division at this time, when the light at 
evening, striking through the foliage, was mistaken for 
the white tents of the enemy, the consequences are some- 
times as fearful as the errors of BalFs Bluff. 

General Burns understood his duty thoroughly, and 
the regiments detailed performed their work with satis- 
faction. At early dawn the troops fell into line in heavy 
marching order; that is, carrying their rations, knap- 
sacks, and shelter-tents, and moved to the extreme right 
of the advance. A strong: line of skirmishers was now 
thrown out, covering the front and both flanks, and a 



YORKTOWX. 51 

movement was made to discover the location of the force 
in front of Heintzehuan. Where the enemy's pickets 
were encountered they were driven in, and our skir- 
mishers pushed on until the supports or batteries were 
found. 

At different times through the day a few shots from 
the field-works, partially concealed by slashings of tim- 
ber, gave all the evidence required of their presence. 
During these operations, the troops acting as supports 
were generally concealed in the woods or ravines, and 
were permitted to rest on their arms. When an occasional 
shell, or the stray bullets from a volley, whizzed, over 
their heads or cut the trees about them, it required no 
order to have the line of battle formed at once. In this 
way the whole of Heintzelman's front was explored, 
and about two o'clock his left flank was reached. At 
this point our force entered a dense wood, and moving 
through it slowly, depending on a pocket-compass in 
the hands of General Burns for the point of direction, 
suddenly encountered the enemy, and immediately after 
received a fire of artillery. Preparations were made in 
anticipation of an attack by infantry, but the fire soon 
ceased, and the command slowly retraced its steps, and 
at night-fall joined the rest of the brigade. This whole 
affair was full of excitement, and would have proved 
rather entertaining to the men had they been unincum- 
bered with their heavy loads. 

The information obtained was of value so far as it 
located the positions of the enemy confronting our ad- 
vance, and although Burns's Brigade had opportunities 
subsequently to engage in more extensive affairs in force 
than this, it is not probable that many of those living at 



52 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

this date have forgotten their first reconnoissance made 
in front of Yorktown on April 6 th. 

The three days following this movement were exceed- 
ingly stormy and cold. From the nature of the soil, 
mud was everywhere, and grew deeper as the storm con- 
tinued, until there seemed no place to rest or sleep. 
During this weather the enemy were completing their 
defenses and strengthening their lines. 

It now became apparent that General McClellan's 
original plan for forcing the defenses of the enemy was 
a failure, and unless Gloucester Point could be first 
turned by the army the co-operation of the navy w^as 
not to be expected. Preparations were therefore begun 
for the operations of a siege. 

When the advance first left Hampton it w^as ordered 
that the troops should be furnished with ten days' 
rations in their haversacks, and three days' on the 
" hoof.'' Orders of this kind became very familiar 
during subsequent campaigns, but when first heard by 
the soldiers it afforded some very amusing explanations 
as to what kind of ^Mioofs" were to carry the extra 
rations. After the ten days' supplies were exhausted 
the troops were entirely dependent on the wagons for 
furnishing subsistence. In order to bring these to the 
front it was necessary to construct roads and build 
bridges. To perform these labors the men w^ere often 
compelled to march and work in water and mud knee- 
deep. To make the roads trees were cut down from 
twelve to eighteen or twenty inches in diameter, and 
divided into sections of about eighteen feet each. These 
were placed side by side in the mud, and in some places 
held in position by stakes driven into the ground. 



YORKTO \VN. 53 

Soon after the coininencement of regular siege oj)era- 
tions, Burns's Brigade was moved from Shipping Point 
to a place near Winn's Mills, where a camp was formed 
and called " Winfield Scott." As this location was im- 
mediately in the front, and was occupied by the com- 
mand during the remainder of the siege, it was at times 
a scene of excitement. All those fit for duty were kept 
constantly on picket, or at work throwing up intrench- 
ments. Heavy artillery was being continually brought 
to the front, though with a great amount of difficulty. 
To receive these guns the engineers were constructing 
fourteen redoubts, or batteries, connected with each 
other by means of rifle-pits or earth-works. The 
position assigned for Sedgwick to complete was known 
as Battery Number Eight. 

While at work on these forts, or on picket in front of 
them, the men were exceedingly annoyed by the enemy's 
sharp-shooters. This style of warfare had been reduced 
to a system quite early in the campaign, and both sides 
had acquired great skill therein. Men who were familiar 
with the rifle, and who were assigned to this duty, quietly 
selected their positions during the night, and by means 
of a spade formed an excavation as a place "of shelter, 
throwing the dirt removed from the pit into an embank- 
ment toward the enemy, and concealing the fresh ap- 
pearance of the earth by means of bushes and branches 
of trees. In these pits they would lie until early dawn, 
when the firing began, and was carried on whenever 
opportunity presented along the entire line. Some of 
the men were sj)lendid shots, and in many instances it 
was certain death for the Confederates to attempt to load 
their cannon after daylight. One of these men used to 



54 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

say when he returned to camp at night that he had cap- 
tured a gun but was unable to bring it in. 

At evening the enemy made up for any time lost 
through the day. When the fatigue detail were about 
to come into camp from their work on the battery, they 
were often saluted by a severe fire of artillery, with an 
occasional discharge of sharp-shooters' rifles. These an- 
noyances were not confined to the early evening, but 
frequently the camp Avas aroused and kept under arms 
for hours during the night by discharges of artillery, or 
two or three startling volleys of musketry. Soldiers 
are disposed to give a reason for everything, and in their 
opinion these endless night-alarms were created by the 
enemy to harass our men, and unfit them, by loss of rest, 
for the duties of the day. During the remainder of 
April these labors, and the alarms incidental to their 
performance, were continued until they became burden- 
some. 

In the mean time large guns, one-hundred, and even 
two-hundred pounders, and heavy mortars, were slowly 
brought forward and put into place. A sharp watch 
was kept on the enemy lest they might slip away before 
these guns had been put to use. Captive balloons were 
used in makinoj observations, and on one occasion a 
change was made in the character of the excitement by 
a balloon containino; Fitz John Porter becomino- de- 
tached from its fastenings. The wind at the moment 
was blowing along the lines, and appeared to carry the 
general alternately over each, and at one time it was 
doubtful which of the armies would have the honor of 
entertaining him, but to his great satisfaction he suc- 
ceeded in landing in the camp of the Seventy-Second. . 



YORK TO WN. 55 

Early in May it became apparent that McClellan had 
completed every preparation necessary to insure the cap- 
ture of Yorktown. On the 4th, just as we were expect- 
ing: the order for the final bombardment and the terrific 
assault which was to follow, the picket brought word 
that the enemy had fled ! Soon this news spread from 
one camp to another, until from the James to the War- 
wick there Avere loud cheers and rejoicing over the 
bloodless victory of McClellan. The bands througliout 
the entire encampments had been restricted from ])laying 
during the siege, but were now brought out, and added 
music to the joyous excitement. 

The moment skirmishers had occupied the forsaken 
works, hundreds of men passed over the fields to view 
them. The scenes behind the defenses that had con- 
fronted our army so long gave indications that their 
abandonment had been conducted in a deliberate and 
orderly manner. Heavy guns and considerable sup- 
plies of ammunition were left behind, and a large num- 
ber of tents were still standing ; these, of course, could 
not well be removed without revealing the operations ; 
otherwise there was the same general a])pcarance always 
presented when a camp has bceii forsaken. The evacu- 
ation had probably been quietly going on for several 
days. 

In front of Battery Number Eight some of the facetious 
fellows among the enemy had left messages written with 
charcoal upon the tents. One of these, dated at a very 
suspicious hour, read : '^ One o'clock a.m.. May 4th, 
18G2. Good-by, Yanks. You call us Rebels, we call 
you Vandals.'' There were a few stragglers and de- 
serters left behind, but this class of people are of no value 



56 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

to either side, and deserve but little consideration from 
friend or foe. On first entering the works they were 
concealed in tents or behind logs, and in some instances 
held above their place of shelter, to protect them from 
being shot as enemies, a piece of white cloth or paper 
fixed on a ramrod. 

In the larger and more important works immediately 
around Yorktown the enemy had availed themselves of 
some of the baser arts of war. Wherever it was prob- 
able our men would enter, and near every object of in- 
terest likely to attract a crowd, were planted concealed 
torpedoes and percussion shells. The existence of these 
mementos of the tactics of ^^ chivalry'^ soon became 
known, and precautions were taken to prevent damage. 
This was not done, however, until several men were 
killed or seriously injured, among the latter a member 
of the Sixty-Ninth, who lost both legs. 

As soon as it was known that the enemy had evacuated 
Yorktown the cavalry and light batteries under Stone- 
man, supported by the divisions of Hooker and Kearney, 
were ordered in pursuit. At the same time Franklin's 
Division was directed to embark on transports in Avait- 
ing for West Point, and Richardson's and Sedgwick's 
commands were moved to the right ready to assist in the 
advance or embark with Franklin. 

At Williamsburg, a few miles north of Yorktown, 
the enemy had a series of field works, one of them. Fort 
Magruder, being of considerable strength. At this place 
their rear-o-uard had made a stand to enable the rest of 
the army with its trains to cross the Chickaliominy. To 
strengthen this defense. General Johnston — the Confed- 
erate commander — had ordered the return of Longstreet's 



rORKTOWN. 57 

Division. As soon as our cavalry struck these lines 
they were repulsed, and awaited the arrival of the in- 
fantry under Hooker, who were struggling and wading 
throuo'li the muddiest of roads. On their arrival the 
attack was begun, and continued with varying success 
and heavy losses until far into the night. 

The sound of this battle was heard at Yorktown, and 
word came back that it was more than an affair of a 
rear-guard. Sumner was sent forward to take command 
of our troops, while his corps was formed in column and 
moved on the* Williamsburg road ready to go forward. 

There are some experiences in the life of a soldier 
more unpleasant than being under fire from the enemy, 
and this night brought one of them. It was cold, dark, 
and rainy. The soil had been turned into slimy mud, 
and the soldiers — tired and shivering — were massed 
together with scarce room to move, and no place to lean 
upon or recline. For hours they faced the storm in this 
dreary road, until the order to move was countermanded. 

On the morning of the 6th the fight at Williamsburg 
was resumed. After some severe work, in which the 
New Jersey regiments and the men of Hancock's Bri- 
gade gained considerable honors, the battle ceased and 
the enemy again retreated. Our loss was reported at 
twenty-two hundred. 

Dnring the time the brigade was in front of York- 
town the killed and wounded by the siege operations 
were light, but it suffered considerably by losses from 
disease and death caused by the hardships the men were 
compelled to undergo, and it is probable none of tlic 
command left the place with the least regret. 



CHAPTER VII. 

FAIR OAKS. 

The brigade was now ordered to join in the flank 
movement already commenced, by way of the York 
River, to West Point, a place abont twenty-five miles 
above Yorktown, and situated on a peninsula between 
the Pamunkey and Mattapony Rivers. 

At six A.M. on May 7th we marched to the wharf, and 
after waiting several hours embarked on steam trans- 
ports, landing in the evening at Brick House, opposite 
West Point. Franklin's Division and Dana's Bri":ade 
of Sedgwick's had already occupied this position, but 
not without a spirited engagement with the Confederate 
rear-guard, in which our forces lost about two hundred 
men. This aifair occurred the day of our arrival, and, 
anticipating a renewal of the fight on the next morning, 
our command was placed in position, but it Avas found 
at daylight that the enemy had retired. 

On the afternoon of the 9th the division moved to a 
camping ground at Eltham, about two miles nearer New 
Kent Court-House, where it remained for several days. 

AVhile in this camp the line officers of regiments had 

their first acquaintance with the difficulty that attends 

procuring subsistence, an experience which was frequently 

repeated afterwards. Troops camiot fight or march on 

68 



FAIR OAKS. 59 

empty stomachs, and at all hazards the Government must 
sup]>]y the enlisted men with rations. On the other 
liand, a commissioned officer must look for diis supplies 
to his own enterprise. If the regimental commissary 
has an abundance of stores, he can dispose of his extras 
by sale to officers ; should this not occur, and sutlers fail 
to reach the camp, it sometimes requires considerable 
strategy to procure necessary food. During this cam- 
paign frequently the men were well supplied, while those 
Ayho commanded them fared very badly, and occasion- 
ally captains of companies who were unwilling to reduce 
the allowance of the men by accepting their proffiired 
rations, were known to eke out their scanty supplies by 
gathering on the march food that had been thrown away. 
Upon the arrival of the sutler this difficulty was tem- 
porarily overcome by the purchase of such articles of 
food as he had brought to the camp. These consisted 
at times of all sorts of provisions, wholesome or other- 
wise. Fruit and vegetables in cans, cheese, gingerbread, 
and some very questionable sausages, with a variety of 
other things, were eagerly purchased without regard to 
price, and the officer was ready for the next forward 
movement. To transport these supplies and have a 
stock ready for use during the day, they were intrusted 
to the care of a colored servant, — frequently a contraband, 
— with whom the officer shared his rations. Some of these 
freedmen no doubt surprised their })alates with novel 
sensations. A man hired by Captain McBride, of the 
Seventy-Second, used to strike his hand on his face when 
he tasted a sutler's device for the first time, and ex- 
claim, '^I've lost a nerve!" and when another contra- 
band treated him to a sardine, he asked, "What de 



60 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

Yanks call clem?" On being answered, "A lizard/' 
nothing daunted, he replied, " Emerson, hab you anud- 
der of dem ^zards to spare ?" 

These "contraband" servants, in spite of their ignor- 
ance and mirth-provoking mistakes, were generally 
faithful to their employers, and frequently, when the 
haversacks Avere nearly empty, their knowledge of the 
country, and especially of the colored people along the 
route, enabled them to replenish their scanty stock. 

Fresh sup2:)lies of food were guarded as new-found 
treasures, yet sometimes they disappeared before night by 
some adroit trick, and the thief was seldom discovered. 
There were exceptions, however, and one of these Avas 
very ludicrous. An officer's servant had captured a 
chicken, and, suspending it to his haversack, joined the 
column, where he was congratulated by his master for 
his success. A few moments later, while passing the 
drummers, the fowl disappeared. Fortunately for the 
officer he was near at hand, and, seizing one of the stout- 
est of the boys, demanded his property. The youngster 
denied all knowledge, and when the chicken was found 
under his buttoned coat, he immediately replied, "How 
did I know it was there?" 

One of the most responsible and trying positions in a 
regiment on active service is that of company com- 
mander. He is really the father of a family, and to 
discharge his duties properly he should always have a 
clear head in danger, a cheerful countenance in the midst 
of reverses, and that endurance which never complains. 
He is expected to keep accurate accounts and make out 
regular returns of all the clothing and camp equipage 
he has received, as well as to prepare the descriptive and 



FAIR OAKS. Ql 

muster rolls for the j^ay of the men, and he is supposed 
to be ready at any time to report the full strength — 
present and absent — of his company. To carry the 
papers and books necessary for his work, with his extra 
clothing and a full suit for reviews, he is allowed trans- 
portation for a satchel or small valise. 

Most of the officers of Burns's Brigade, in spite of 
these difficulties and others of a more trivial character, 
discharged their duties well ; yet they would have been 
materially assisted in their performance had the regu- 
lation in time of war permitted an issue of rations in 
kind to officers as well as to the rank and file ; and it 
would have been still better if, instead of a small amount 
of clothing carried in wagons, a pack-mule had been 
allowed to carry, for a definite number of officers, a limited 
amount of rations as well as baggage. By this change 
the size of the trains would not have been increased, as 
the pack animal could have been fed by foraging on the 
march, and in winter quarters might have been used by 
the quartermaster. 

Convenient as these changes might be to an officer, 
one still more useful could be made in his weapons and 
uniform. The arms of an officer of infantry are sup- 
posed to be a sword and revolver. The former is of no 
more practical value in the field than a stout club, ex- 
cept as a notice to an enemy's sharp-shooter that the 
wearer has a rank. The scabbard interferes with quick 
operations through brush and dense woods, and at night 
on a picket line its rattling frequently indicates the 
movements of its owner. Often while the pickets are 
in close proximity to each other, they do not exchange 
shots, but the moment an officer is seen on either side he 



(52 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

is sure to be made a target. This sometimes prevents a 
safe opportunity for close observation of the enemy's 
field works. 

If the arms of line officers were breech-loading rifles 
instead of swords, and if their uniform was of the same 
color as that of their men, with no distinguishing mark 
except such as their own troops could easily recognize, 
the practical good of the service would be materially 
increased. 

On the 15th of May our division was moved a dis- 
tance of eight miles, to a point near Xew Kent Court- 
House, and camped there. The next day the advance 
division of the army with headquarters took possession 
of White House Landing, at the head of navigation on 
the Pamunkey. From this point to Richmond is a dis- 
tance of eighteen miles by the York River Railroad. 
Depots were established here, and preparations were 
made to bring supplies by water, and to rejmir the rail- 
road as the army advanced toward Richmond. This 
road, when restored, was used during the time McClel- 
lan was before the Confederate capital, as a line of com- 
munication from the front of the army to the base, at 
White House. 

May 21st. Weather hot and oppressive. Division 
marched about thirteen miles to accomplish a distance 
of eight or nine, and encamped at night near Bottom's 
Bridge on the Chickahominy. 

This stream, destined to bear such a j^rominent part 
in the history of the great conflict, and with whose name 
so many sad memories are brought to thousands of 
households in the land, is of no considerable size, but 
very fickle in its character. 



FAIR OAKS. (33 

It is formed by tlie junction of a number of small 
streams that unite in the rough and hilly country north- 
west of Richmond, and flows an east-southeast course, 
emptying into the James Kiver many miles below the 
city. The stream, in itself, does not oppose any con- 
siderable obstacle to the advance of an army, but with 
its intervals of marshy shores and heavily- timbered 
swamps, whose tree-toi)s often rise to a level with the 
table lands bordering these bottoms and concealing them 
from view, it is an obstacle of the most formidable char- 
acter. 

On the retreat of the enemy the different bridges 
crossing the stream on McClellan's line of advance were 
destroyed. 

Directly north of Richmond, on the line of the Vir- 
ginia Central Railroad, is Meadow Bridge, at a distance 
of five miles from the city. Two miles below Meadow 
Bridge there is another, on the Mechanicsville road. 
Here the stream grows gradually wider by the addition 
of creeks, but flows sluggishly through low, swampy 
lands. Next to Mechanicsville, and four miles below 
it, is New Bridge, at a distance of seven miles from 
Richmond. Seven miles below this is Bottom's Bridge, 
one mile below the point where the Richmond and York 
River Railroad crosses the stream. 

About the time of Sedgwick's arrival at the river, 
the advance of the army began to cross at both Bottom's 
Bridge and the railroad. After reconnoitering within a 
short distance of Richmond and nearly to the James 
River, the troops that had crossed fell back to })oints 
nearer the Chickahominy, and commenced fortifying 
their position. Casey's Division of Keyes's Corps was 



64 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

placed on both sides of the AYilliamsburg road^ six 
miles from Richmond and half a mile beyond Seven 
Pines. Couch's Division of the same corps extended 
from Seven Pines to Fair Oaks Station, on the York 
River Railroad. Kearney's Division of Heintzelman's 
Corps was on the same road to the rear of Peach Orchard, 
and the division of Hooker of the same corps was pro- 
tecting the approaches from White Oak Swamp, that 
lay to the left of these divisions. 

Meantime the corps of Sumner, Porter, and Franklin 
remained on the left bank of the river. In this divided 
condition the army remained during its stay before Rich- 
mond, although the relative positions of some of the 
corps were changed occasionally. 

By the 27th, Sumner's Corps had constructed two 
bridges over the river for the passage of troops ; one 
of them was called the Grapevine, and the other Sum- 
ner's Lower Bridge. At this work and picketing our 
time was fully occupied. 

On the morning of the 28th the entire division was 
ordered under arms, and in ten minutes' time from the 
sounding of the assembly the brigade was hurried off, 
without breakfast or coffee. The object apparently — 
for no soldier appears to know anything, or should not, 
except from personal experience — was to sustain General 
Porter's Division in a heavy skirmish that was going on 
not far from Hanover Court-House. After marching a 
few miles the command was halted in a large field, where 
it remained until the afternoon of the 29th, when it re- 
turned to camp. As this sudden march was made in 
light order it was not fatiguing, and was attended with 
no inconvenience except the loss of the morning lunch. 



FAIR OAKS. 65 

May 31st, from about ten a.:n[. avc heard heavy firincr 
on our left across the Chickahominy. ^'Old Sumner/' 
Avho was the ideal of a soldier for dash and swiftness, 
Avas very restless. He mounted his horse, and vseemed 
momentarily expecting an order, and fretting because it 
did not come. The corps Avas under arms, and at noon 
Sumner, impatient at the delay, would wait no longer, 
and moved without orders to the Grapevine Bridge and 
halted, with Sedgwick's Division in advance. When 
we reached the brido;e the rouo-h losrs formino; the cord- 
uroy road leading over the swamp to it were mostly 
afloat, and were only kept in their places by the stumps 
of the trees to which they were fastened. The bridge 
itself was suspended from the trunks of trees by ropes, 
and on their strength depended the safety of the struc- 
ture. 

AVhen the order came to " move forward at once," and 
the first part of our division marched on the bridge, it 
seemed impossible that it could stand; but the very 
weight of the troops while crossing made it temporarily 
secure by settling it against the solid stumps. With 
our advance Avas Kirby's Battery, First United States 
Artillery. To get the guns out of the swamp to solid 
ground after crossing required extraordinary exertions. 
The horses were unhitched, and the infantry vied with 
the men of the battery in their endeavors to drag them 
forward. By fairly lifting guns and limbers they were 
carried out of the mire, and Sedgwick was soon on his 
way Avith his favorite battery to the relief of our com- 
rades of Keyes's and Heintzel man's Corps. 

Realizing that every moment was precious, and guided 
by the deafening roll of musketry and the booming of 



66 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

cannon, the troops, filled with enthusiasm, pushed on, 
passing Trent's large mansion, then across a wheat-field 
to a swift-flowino; stream, fordino; which thev entered a 
thin strip of woods. Here thev met numbers of wounded 
men coming from the fight, which was raging just in 
front of this timber; stray balls were flying about us, 
and before we realized it, — and while some were dis- 
cussing whether the bullets that were whizzing past were 
spent or not, — we were in our first battle as an entire 
brigade. 

General Sumner now assumed command of the whole 
field, and the moment was a critical one. The enemy 
had turned the left of our troops at Fair Oaks station, 
cutting it off from the rest of the army, and it looked as 
if the entire left wing that had crossed the Chickahominy 
was doomed to destruction. 

Sadgwick quickly formed the First Brigade, under 
General Gorman, in line of battle on the edge of the 
woods we had entered, and Kirby swung his brass guns 
into position and loaded them with canister. At the 
same time the Second Brigade was formed in mass near 
the crest of a hill, alongside the battery and to the right 
of the First Brigade. 

The battle was raging as furiously as ever, wounded 
men and stragglers were falling back for shelter, and on 
the field in front our troops were fighting and gradually 
retiring before overwhelming numbers. Gorman now 
led his brigade over the crest and swept down in line of 
battle towards Fair Oaks, where the Twenty-Third 
Pennsylvania, under Colonel IS^iell, and Cochran's 
United States Chasseurs were desperately fighting. 

As the movement began, and the responsive volley of 



FAIR OAKS. (57 

the enemy reached the flank of the Seventy-Second, 
Colonel Baxter sung out, '^ That's the music, boys ; now 
for three cheers!'' At the same instant General Burns 
turned towards the brigade, and, swinging his hat in the 
air, exclaimed, "Let them be hearty!" In a moment 
a deafening shout arose from the entire conmiand, and 
joined to it were the cheers of the advancing First Bri- 
gade and the roar of Kirby's guns ; and the earth fairly 
trembled. 

These cheers filled our struggling fellows with fresh 
confidence ; they knew that help was at hand, while to 
the enemy, as some of the prisoners told us afterward, 
they came like a death-knell ; and as the presence of the 
troops that gave them was so unexpected, it seemed as 
though they arose from the ground. 

The moment Gorman began to advance, heavy volleys 
of musketry enfiladed our right ; to meet this Burns de- 
ployed the Sixty-Ninth and Seventy-Second, while 
Sedgwick led in ])erson the Seventy-First and One 
Hundred and Sixth to the support of Kirby and the 
cliarge of the First Brigade. 

The enemy were determined to capture Kirby's guns, 
and the strife about them was intense; but in spite of 
persistent efforts to take them they held their position 
with great gallantry and steadiness. Just as night came 
on the enemy made one more vigorous effort on the right 
of the division, when Sumner ordered a bayonet charge 
by two regiments of Dana's Brigade and three of Gor- 
man's. This force performed their work bravely. They 
leaped two fences between them and the enemy, and, 
rushing forward, drove the Confederates in confusion. It 
was now dark, and the battle ceased for the night. 



(38 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

The loss of the brigade in the action of this day was 
five killed and thirty wounded. Among the former was 
Lieutenant Frank A. Donaldson, Seyenty-First ; and 
among the latter Captain Francis H. Acuff, One Hun- 
dred and Sixth, and Captain John A. Markoe, Seventy- 
First. As this was the first battle of the command as a 
brigade, the troops Avere highly pleased with the compli- 
ments of their general, who said in his official report, 
^^ I am entirely satisfied with the conduct of my brigade. 
It has been christened under fire, and will do what is 
required of it." 

Immediately after the last charge of Sumner's troops, 
a portion of the brigade was deployed as skirmishers in 
front of the woods into which the enemy had retreated. 
On this advanced portion of the field over which the 
two forces had been contending, were to be seen some of 
the realities of war. The wounded and dead of both 
armies were lying as they had fallen, and in large num- 
bers. Strewn over the ground were rifles, haversacks, 
canteens, and accoutrements; but instead of the roar of 
the battle and the shouts of victory or of defiance, were 
the groans and cries of suffering men. 

About eleven o'clock p.m. the Seventy-First Regi- 
ment was ordered by General Sumner to move into a 
position between the battle-field and Grapevine Bridge 
to cover the communications while the artillery was 
being brought to the front. During the night Rich- 
ardson's Division came up, while Kearney's Brigades, 
which had separated from his corps, again formed con- 
nection. 

On the morning of June 1st the conflict was renewed. 
This time the brunt was borne by Richardson's, while 



FAIR OAKS. 69 

the Second Division was hurried about from one place 
to anotlier to act as support to the artillery wherever it 
was thought to be most needed. Once bayonets were 
fixed while advancing with orders to charge, but it was 
countermanded. By twelve o'clock, with the exception of 
an occasional volley, the battle of Fair Oaks had ended. 

After remaining in position on the field for two days, 
our brigade was ordered, on the evening of the 3d, to 
double-quick to the extreme left of the line and re- 
inforce Hooker's Division, which expected an attack. 
During the night there was a heavy rain, and the men 
Avere thoroughly drenched. On the following morning, 
in this condition, the command was moved through the 
marshy ground, where some of the hardest fighting had 
taken place, and where the dead in large numbers were 
lying terribly disfigured. In some cases bodies were 
partly buried, as if some friend had commenced the last 
rite and had been driven away. In other places, where 
the swamps were deep, dead Confederates were standing 
erect, shot as they were retreating, and the mire had 
prevented their fall. The whole atmosphere, heavy after 
the rain, was filled with a horrible odor that penetrated 
our Avet clothing, and even tainted the food in the haver- 
sacks. Strong; uien irrew sick and turned aside with 
horror. 

All about this terrible battle-field there were most 
mournful sights. With but few houses or jilaccs of 
shelter to accommodate the wounded, many were com- 
pelled to lie on the ground and to protect themselves as 
best they could from the burning sun. It is worthy of 
especial mention that the large majority of the wounded 
endured their sufferings with scarce a niurmui-. 

7 



70 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

Until the 6th of June we were in this immediate vicin- 
ity, and its unwholesome atmosphere, uniting with the 
malaria of the Chickahominy swamps, began to affect the 
men. A number from the brigade were stricken down 
with fever, and these suiferers were even more unfortu- 
nate tlmn the wounded. There was some measure of 
attention given to the latter ; but it was said in some 
cases by actions, if not by Avords, that ^' a soldier has 
no business to become sick ;'^ and the surgeons had but 
little time to bestow upon them. 

For a w^eek or two after the battle of Fair Oaks, 
there was some difficulty in procuring sanitary supplies 
for the sick. This was probably owing to the sudden 
and unexpected demand, and to the limited means of 
transportation, but, like many other difficulties in pro- 
viding for a great army, it was soon overcome. 

By moving to the right of the battle-field and facing 
towards Richmond, its scenes were hid from sight, and 
to that extent the morale of the men was increased ; but 
no army from the North could ever entirely overcome 
the feeling of lassitude incidental to a location on the 
banks of this treacherous stream in the hot days of June. 

Our new position joined Richardson on the left, and 
on the right extended towards the Chickahominy. That 
2:>ortion of the line occupied by Burns's Brigade was 
parallel to the enemy's works on Garnett's farm, about 
one mile distant. In front of us were thick woods of 
irregular depth, — in some places only half a mile, in 
others extending almost to the Confederate line; its nar- 
rowest portion bordered on Garnett's large wheat-field. 
Our pickets were placed about half a mile to the front 
of the brigade ; tliis brought some of them to the edge 



FAIR OAKS. 71 

of the open field, while others, coinieetiiig on the same 
line, were located entirely in the woods. As the enemy's 
videttes were immediately in front of ours, it required 
some care even by daylight on the part of those in the 
Avoods to avoid a surprise ; but at night, when the pickets 
on both sides were advanced stealthily as close as possi- 
ble to each other, extraordinary caution was necessary. 
Not unfrequently both men and officers, unfamiliar with 
the ground, lost their way, and were wounded or cap- 
tured. In this way the brigade met several losses, — 
among these were Captain Martin Frost, One Hundred 
and Sixth, killed June 9th ; Lieutenant Maurine C. 
Moore, Seventy-First, killed June 8th ; and Lieutenant 
Moran, Sixty-Ninth, wounded. At about the same time 
Lieutenant-Colonel W. L. Curry was captured by the 
enemy and sent to Richmond, and afterwards became a 
fellow-prisoner with General Michael Corcoran at Salis- 
bury, where he w^as severely treated. At the end of 
three months the colonel was released, and rejoined his 
regiment. 

The tour of duty before Richmond was very similar 
to that at Yorktown, with the exception that the troops 
were not employed to any great extent on fjxtigue details. 
The only earthworks of any consequence near us were 
on Richardson's front, and occasionally a detachment 
from the brigade assisted in their erection. Each of 
Burns's regiments constructed on their lines rifle-pits 
topped off with logs and dead trees, and to increase these 
defenses, slashings were made in the woods immediately 
in front. 

Often at night the camps were under arms, in conse- 
quence of picket-firing and expected attacks which 



72 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

never took place. These alarms arose more frequently 
with some of the picket details than others, and the men 
became so Avell aware of this that the answer to the ques- 
tion, "Who is on picket to-night?" often indicated in 
their opinion the character of the rest they were to enjoy. 

While in this vicinity the experiment of issuing rations 
of Avhisky to the troops was tried by the commissaries. 
Regularly every day the men fell in line for their "com- 
missary," as it was called. Most of the soldiers at first 
drew this ration and drank all or part of it. Young 
men who never used it as a beverage at home stood be- 
side those who were familiar with its taste and took their 
allowance. In a short time the novelty wore off, and it 
occurred to some of the officers to issue to the men, instead 
of whisky, hot coffee, served just before going on picket 
and at intervals while on that duty in stormy weather, 
and their experience was decidedly against the whisky. 

During daylight there was generally a sort of tacit 
truce between the opposing j^ickets. Once this was 
broken by us, and rather to our disadvantage. General 
Burns ordered a few sharp-shooters to go to the front and 
annoy the enemy. The day was Sunday, and the pickets 
Avere anticipating a quiet tour. When the sharp-shooters 
began their work, those on the posts were passing their 
time watching the effects of the shots. In a few^ minutes 
after the first discharge the enemy opened on our line 
with shrapnel, and did not cease firing until a number 
of our men were killed and wounded ; among them 
Corporal Sellers and Emlen Hitter, of the Seventy- 
Second, killed, and a number of others of the same regi- 
ment badly wounded. This ended that sort of experi- 
ment while on this line. 



CIIAPTEE VIII. 



THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGUT. 



It became evident in the latter part of June that our 
army could not remain in its present inactive position 
much longer. Our troops must either make an attack 
or receive one from the enemy. There were constant 
rumors of movements and sounds of distant battle that 
deepened this impression. 

On the 27th of June, from early in the morning until 
two o'clock, heavy cannonading was heard on the right.. 
Later in the day the roll of volleys of musketry, added 
to the boom of the artillery, sounding like the coming of 
a distant storm, gave evidence that Fitz John Porter 
was heavily engaged at Gainesville. Everything seemed 
as quiet as usual on our own front, not even a picket 
shot was fired, but all were on the alert, and more anx- 
ious than usual to know the character of the movements 
in the distance. During the afternoon General McClel- 
lan with his staif rode along the line, and he was greeted 
with loud cheers. This unusual excitement appeared to 
the enemy as if a movement of some character was 'in- 
tended by our division, and led to a severe artillery duel, 
followed by a heavy attack of infantry upon our pickets. 
The reserve force soon became engaged, and the enemy 
was repulsed. A Georgia officer, who was captured by 

7* 78 



74 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

men of the brigade, stated that their loss was very severe. 
Among the casualties on our side was Sergeant Harry 
Donaldson, of the Seventy-Second, mortally wounded. 
This young man was a soldier of fine promise, and be- 
haved well in the action. 

A rumor now reached us, and was rapidly circulated, 
that Fitz John Porter had gained a victory. This in- 
telligence the men seemed disposed to believe, notwith- 
standing the unusual operations going on about the camp, 
and they again broke out in cheers. 

On the 28th, quartermasters began exerting their ut- 
most to send all extra clothing and spare supplies to the 
railroad, for White House, while the wagons belong- 
ing to the trains were loaded with rations and ammuni- 
tion. Hospitals were broken up, and the wounded and 
sick were transferred to Savage Station. Surgeons and 
their stewards busied themselves in preparing medical 
stores for the ambulances, and in their department 
as well as the others all seemed preparing for severe 
work. 

During these preparations, a battery of rifled guns, 
commanded by Captain Franks, was ordered to report 
to General Burns, who placed it in position to strengthen 
our defenses. When the shotted salute of the enemy 
began, it had an opportunity to reply, and it was so well 
handled that it became quite a favorite subsequently with 
the men. A shot made by Captain Franks with one of 
these guns while stationed with the brigade was equal 
to the best sharp-shooting practice. A scout of the 
enemy, anxious to ascertain why our men were cheering 
and what the Yankees were doing, ascended a tree about 
one mile distant to take observations. A cannon was 



THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT. 75 

sighted at tlic lookout, and the tliird shot carried away 
the poor fellow and his shelter. 

Tlie evening of June 28th brought true reports of 
the fighting that had been going on at the right. Gen- 
eral Lee had matured his plans for striking a blow at 
McClellan, and had commenced their execution. His 
preparations were completed on the 25th of June, and 
on the next day A. P. Hill's Corps crossed the Chicka- 
hominy at Mechanicsville and drove a small force sta- 
tioned there back to the main line on Beaver Dam Creek, 
near Ellison's Mills. At this place were posted General 
McCall's Pennsylvania Reserves, supported by Meade's 
Brigade and the division of Morell. The bridges over 
the creek had been destroyed, and a rifle-pit constructed 
on the eminence, protected by an abattis of felled timber. 
In this our men w'ere concealed, and reserved their fire 
until the enemy had nearly approached, when they 
opened with a destructive volley, which quickly drove 
them back. Then an attempt was made to turn the left 
flank of our troops, which was equally unsuccessful. 
After this the fight continued at various points until late 
at night, when the battle of Mechanicsville was over. 

The Reserves rested on their arms until early dawn, 
when they retired to a strong position near Gaines's 
Mill, between Cold Harbor and the Chickahominy. At 
this point they joined the Fifth Corps, under Fitz Jolm 
Porter, and awaited the attack. This commenced by a 
movement of the Confederates under A. P. Hill in the 
afternoon, and raged with fury until night. At one 
time late in the day it seemed as if Porter's forces would 
be driven into the river, but relief came from the bri- 
gades of French and Meagher from the Second Corps. 



76 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

These brigades had been hurriedly pushed for\yard, and 
upon their arrival at the field advanced with loud cheers, 
and, with the assistance of Porter's decimated regiments, 
retook the positions which the enemy had occupied, and 
held them until night. 

It was the sound of this conflict that was heard during 
the 27th, and the result of which caused General Mc- 
Clellan to resolve to fall back from Richmond. That 
night Porter's exhausted troops were withdrawn to the 
other side of the river, and before daybreak on the 28tli 
McClellan was on his way to Savage Station to superin- 
tend the preparations for the change of base to the James 
River. 

The line of retreat adopted was by way of White Oak 
Swamp, the passage of which by means of its single 
road was an undertaking of great difficulty. By noon 
of the 28th Keyes's Corps, which led the advance, oc- 
cupied strong positions on the opposite side to cover the 
crossing of troojDS and the immense trains of wagons 
and ambulances, and thousands of beef cattle. During 
the same night Porter's Corps crossed and advanced 
towards the James, while the corps of Heintzelman and 
Sumner, and Smith's Division of Franklin's Corps, re- 
ceived orders to cover the roads leading from Richmond, 
and also protect the depot at Savage Station. 

On Sunday at four a.m., June 29th, Burns's Brigade 
was ordered to retire from the breastworks ill front of 
Garnett's farm to join the division and march to Orchard 
Station, a point on the railroad about three miles to the 
rear. The })ickets were instructed to remain on their 
posts as usual, and to use every exertion to prevent the 
enemy from ascertaining our movements. The officer 



THE SEVEN DAYS' EIGHT. 77 

in charge of this line was directed to withdraw his men 
as soon as he received an order from tlie division com- 
mander, which Avould probably not be given before early 
dawn. This was an exceedingly delicate duty to per- 
form, especially as daylight arrived before the pickets 
could be safely retired. Captain Roussel, of the Seventy- 
Second, in charge of the brigade detail, performed the 
operation with great credit, and, favored by a fog, suc- 
ceeded in joining the brigade with his men without loss. 

During the withdrawal of these pickets, there occurred 
a singular illustration of a fact that many soldiers have 
observed, — the irregular courage displayed by some few 
of their comrades. Just before dawn Captain Iloussel 
ordered one of his officers to go to the videttes and bring 
them cjuietly back to the reserve. The man hesitated 
for a moment, and then turning to the captain said, " I 
am a coward and can't do this work.'^ He was of course 
placed under arrest, and subsequently dismissed from 
the army. Until this period of his service this officer 
had behaved well, and possibly would have done so 
afterwards, but for the moment he became a coward 
physically, although, strange to say, he had the moral 
courage to acknowledge it publicly. There were some 
few in every command who occasionally acted like this 
man, but without his candor; and when the soldiers 
W'ere taught by experience to know the amount of forti* 
tude and courage required on so many occasions, they 
were disposed to be merciful towards those unfortunates 
who occasionally fiiilcd to manifest these virtues. 

On reaching Orchard Station the brigade joined the 
corps, which was formed in line of battle facing the 
rear. Soon after our arrival, and at about daylight, 



78 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

General Sumner ordered a regiment back to reoccupy 
our former lines as an advanced picket. This duty was 
intrusted to the Seventy-First, under Lieutenant-Colonel 
W. G. Jones. When Colonel Jones's pickets reached 
the Avoods where the battle ended on May 31st, he cap- 
tured two prisoners, the advance of the Confederate 
skirmishers, and soon discovered the enemy in force in 
our deserted rifle-pits ; and they at the same moment 
began to advance on him. In conjunction with these, 
another body of Confederates came down the railroad 
in front of the regiment, advanced on the left of the 
Seventy-First, and forced this regiment back. Colonel 
Jones then retired to a favorable position on the left of 
the woods, behind Allen's house, where he re-formed 
and received them in splendid order, and the fight was 
continued for some time, when reinforcements for the 
enemy arriving in large numbers compelled the Seventy- 
First to fall back again ; this time fighting through the 
woods until they came to the edge of a field in front of 
the line of battle formed by the corps. 

The batteries of Pettit and Hazzard now went into 
action, and as the Confederates advanced they were met 
by a severe fire of artillery. This contest lasted for an 
hour, and at times with a great amount of determination 
on both sides, but our forces at length compelled the 
enemy to retire. During the battle the other regiments 
of the brigade acted as supports, and were exposed to a 
heavy fire without being engaged. 

Of this affair at Peach Orchard General Burns re- 
ports : '' The Seventy-First, under its gallant young 
lieutenant-colonel, won high encomiums from the corps 
commander, who knows what fighting means." 



THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT. 79 

The reported loss of the Seventy-First in this action 
was ninety-six killed and wounded. 

At noon the Second Corps was ordered to fall back 
about two miles farther to Savage Station. Part of this 
movement was made on a double-quick, and, as the 
Aveather was very warm, some of the men were overcome 
by the heat, and, dropping by the roadside, were taken 
prisoners. 

On arriving at the Station the Second Corps passed 
through the lines of General Heintzelman, who was 
lying there expecting an attack from the direction of 
Bottom's Bridge. By some misunderstanding this gen- 
eral moved his corps upon our arrival across the AVhite 
Oak Swamp, leaving a gap of three-fourths of a mile 
between the Second Corps and Franklin. The enemy, 
under General Magruder, who were following us, were 
not slow to perceive this weakness in the line, and at 
half-past four p.m. made their appearance in the corner 
of the field to the left of the place where the corps was 
massed. 

General Sumner ordered the Seventy-Second and One 
Hundred and Sixth Regiments to move back across the 
field about half a mile, and hold the woods between 
the Williamsburg road and the railroad. Tliis move- 
ment was under the personal direction of General Burns, 
and, although executed with great promptness, Avas per- 
formed as deliberately as if on parade. Two companies 
from each regiment were deployed as skirmishers, and 
moved forward to tlie woods, wdiile the regiments were 
forming in line under fire from the Confederate batteries. 
As tlie skirmishers entered the timber they found it 
filled witii dense uiidcrhrusli, and at the same time heard 



80 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

the commands given by the officers of the opposing line 
advancing to attack. Our men were halted, and directed 
to open fire as soon as they caught a glimpse of the 
enemy or saw a movement in the bushes. In a few 
moments the firing began, and in order to uncover our 
line of battle the skirmishers retired to the open field, 
carrying with them a number of their dead and wounded 
comrades. 

Before the two reo-iments had reached the edo^e of the 
woods, a scout informed General Burns that the enemy 
was approaching with a large force on the Williamsburg 
road. As both flanks were exposed, Burns applied to 
General Sumner for another regiment. Fortunately, the 
enemy did not attack until the First Minnesota had been 
thrown across the Williamsburg road with the left re- 
tired. The line was still not Ions: enouo-h to cover the 
ground, and the Seventy-Second was moved to the right 
and its right flank thrown back to cover the railroad, 
leaving a gap between it and the One Hundred and 
Sixth. Before these dispositions were completed, the 
enemy attacked with great fury. In the meanwhile 
their artillery fire had increased, and was answered by 
the batteries of Pettit, Osborii, and Bramhall. 

The battle now racred alono; the entire line from the 
railroad to the Williamsburg road, but Avas gradually 
concentrated toward the weak point between the Seventy- 
Second and One Hundred and Sixth. Here the fire Avas 
terrific, the enemy forcing their way through the woods, 
flaunting their flags across the fence almost in the faces 
of our men. For a moment the line broke, but the 
frallant reiriments re-formed and drove them back. A 
charge was now made by the First Brigade, which had 



THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT. gl 

been sent to reinforce the line, and the enemy were 
driven in confusion from the woods. 

While the battle was at its height, the Confederates 
made an attack, with a heavy ship gun mounted on a 
railway truck, upon the cars loaded with stores and 
ammunition. To prevent these falling into their hands 
they were set on fire, and as the flames reached the car- 
tridges and shells the whole mass exploded with a deafen- 
ins: sound, and the dense smoke rose in the air like a 
huge column to an immense height. 

The battle of Savage Station was over at seven o'clock, 
and was fairly a victory for our troops. The enemy 
had commenced the attack, and met with a bloody re- 
pulse. This was not accomplished without severe losses 
on our side. Owing to their position, Baxter's Regiment 
and that of Colonel Morehead suffered more heavily 
than the others. The Seventy-Second lost fifteen killed 
and a considerable number wounded ; among the former, 
Captain Charles McGonigle, Company B, and among 
the latter, Lieutenant DeB. Shewell, who was mortally 
wounded. General Burns, the gallant brigade com- 
mander, received a bullet in his face while the contest 
was at its height, but, staunching the blood with a liand- 
kerchief, he continued on duty. 

The Seventy-First was held in reserve along with the 
Seventh Michigan, looking to the flanks during the fight, 
while the Sixty-Ninth under Colonel Owen was similarly 
employed with the First Minnesota. 

In this eno-ao-ement, as well as in a number of subse- 
qucnt actions, it was impossible to procure an accurate list 
of'tlie casualties. Owing to the frequent change of regi- 
mental and company commanders by losses in action, rolls 



82 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

could not be regularly kept, and only at occasional periods 
or at the end of a severe campaign, Avhen the regimental 
and brigade returns were made out and compared with 
former reports, could the aggregate losses be ascertained. 
In the list of casualties among officers this difficulty was 
not so great, and when the losses are reported the names 
are generally given. The difficulty of tracing the his- 
tory of the men was by no means confined to our com- 
mand, it occurred throughout the army; whenever battles 
were fought, thousands perished by the bullet or dropped 
by the roadside, and in the report are described as "miss- 
ing in action," or perhaps on some tablet in a cemetery 
are marked '^ unknown." 

At nine p.m. ^'Old Sumner," who had held Magruder 
at bay like a mastiff defending his charge, again started 
his corps on the retreat to White Oak Swamp, leaving 
the hospital, with twenty-five hundred sick and wounded, 
to the tender mercies of the enemy. This was done by 
the order of General McClellan, and was one of the 
saddest incidents of the retreat. When it became known 
that the troops nuist leave these helpless fellows, some 
of whom had fallen only a few hours before, there were 
many hearts filled Avith sorrow, and as the brigade passed 
the hospital tents comrades rushed in to take a farewell 
leave of some familiar face, and to receive a message for 
loved ones at home. 

This night-march was a dreary one; the roads were 
filled with infantry and artillery, and for the most part 
led through dense forests of swamp timber. We had 
gone but a short distance when the sky was overcast, and 
a thunder-storm set in, compelling us to struggle along 
in darkness only broken occasionally by a burning 



THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT. 33 

wa2:on or caisson. At midniglit the rain ceased, and 
the clouds breaking away we had the light of the. stars 
to guide our lagging and weary footsteps. With scarce 
a halt the column pressed on toward the swamp, and save 
the tramp, tramp of the men and the rumble of artillery- 
wheels, there was an unusual al)sence of the noise inci- 
dental to a march. Occasionally some one would mur- 
mur, •' My knapsack cuts my shoulder," and receive the 
reply, " You will forget all about it when you have your 
grandchildren on your knee ;" but, with the exception of 
some few exchanges like this, the men were quiet, and, 
grasping their pieces, seemed to think of the work of 
the coming day. 

At daylight on June 30th we reached the military 
bridge spanning the sluggish waters of White Oak 
Swamp. General Richardson was standing by the road 
Avitli his coat unbuttoned and sleeves rolled up, super- 
intending the crossing and urging the troo{:>s forward. 
The moment our brigade had crossed, with the rear- 
guard, the frail structure was cut away, but not a 
minute too soon to gain time for defense, as the cavalry 
of the enemy were on our heels. 

Leaving- Richardson's and Smith's Divisions with the 
batteries of Ayres and Hazzard to dispute the passage 
of the swamp, our corps mov^ed on about two miles far- 
ther, to Glendale, or Nelson's farm. There, at the junc- 
tion of the Long Bridge and the Quaker City road, along 
which our troops were retreating, were stationed the 
Pennsylvania Reserves. Sedgwick's Division was massed 
in an open field to the right of Hooker's Division, and 
to th-e left and rear of the artillery. In this position 
the soldiers stretched themselves on the ground to rest, 



84 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIC.iDE. 

and, while listening to the heavy cannonading at White 
Oak Swamp, began to speculate as to the next move in 
the change of base. 

They had not long to wait. Shortly after one o^clock 
firing began on the picket-line in front of McCalFs posi- 
tion, and at half-past three he was furiously attacked by 
the enemy in heavy force, and the battle of Glendale 
oj)ened. 

The first charge of the Confederates was repulsed by 
a counter-charge of the Reserves, and they in turn were 
driven back by fresh troops of the enemy. Backward 
and forward these lines were swaying for nearly two 
houi's. Guns were taken and retaken by both forces 
amid terrible slaughter, till finally Randall's Battery 
was captured by a charge of two Confederate regiments 
advancing with trailed arms. They rushed up to the 
muzzles of the guns, a hand-to-hand fight ensued, and 
the regiment supporting it was driven back, when they 
seized the battery. 

Meanwhile a renewed attack on the left flank of 
Seymour's Brigade was also successful, and the enemy, 
pushing on, drove the retreating troops between Hooker 
and Sedgwick. Here they were caught in turn by 
Hooker's fire on the flank, and, driven across Sedg- 
wick's front, they were struck by McCall's centre, which 
with his right had held their position. The battle Avas 
now fought desperately on both sides. While the enemy 
Avas pushing on his masses, Hooker's Division had 
joined in the fight Avith McCall and was becoming hotly 
engaged. 

At this point General Burns states in his report, "At 
the request of General Hooker, General Sumner for- 



THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT, 35 

warded Colonel Owen to the right of Hooker's first 
line, and sent Colonel Morehead in reserve of General 
Hooker's right. I was directed to lead Baxter to the 
woods on the right of the field, throngh which McCall's 
left retreated, as the enemy seemed to be moving that 
way to rid themselves of the terrible fire of Kirby's 
Battery, which swept the field." 

The Sixty-Ninth had scarcely been placed in position 
by Hooker, when another heavy attack broke through 
McCall's centre and sent the fugitives flying to the rear. 
The enemy pressed on in large numbers, and when within 
fifty yards of the Sixty-Ninth they were brought to a 
halt by a volley from their muskets. At this critical 
moment an order was quickly given by Colonel Owen 
to fix bayonets and charge the enemy, which Avas done 
most gallantly. General Burns says officially, "Colonel 
Owen's Sixty-Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, unsup- 
ported, pursued the victorious rebels back over the 
ground . through which they were passing, and crowned 
the crest of the hill where McCall had lost his artillery. 
Gallant Sixty-Ninth ! The line followed this noble 
example, and McCall's position was held and the enemy 
discomfited." 

While the Sixty-Ninth Avas moving forward to this 
position, the One Hundred and Sixth, which had been 
ordered to its support, was led to the extreme left by 
General Hooker in person, and joined with the Excel- 
sior Brigade in holding that portion of the line. 

By direction of General Sumner the Seventy-First 
Pennsylvania and the Nineteenth Massachusetts were 
placed in support of the first line, in connection with 
the Seventy-Second, already in position in the woods on 

8* 



86 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

the right. While perfecting these dispositions an attack 
was made on the left centre, and the New York regi- 
ment holding that portion of the front line broke away, 
allowing the enemy to advance through the gap. The 
Seventy-First Pennsylvania and the Nineteenth Massa- 
chusetts were thrown into the breach. Burns says, 
" Nobly did they redeem the faults of their comrades. 
These two noble regiments met the enemy face to face, 
and for nearly an hour poured into them such tremen- 
dous volleys that no further attack was had at that vital 
point." 

It was now dark, and this desperately-fought battle 
was over. During its continuance there were periods 
when it seemed as if the result was very doubtful, but 
our forces were generally enabled to hold their ground 
or quickly recover any portion that had been lost. It 
was the good fortune of the brigade to be placed in posts 
of honor, and to merit from , the brigade commander 
the report, " Colonels Baxter, Owen, Morehead, and 
Lieutenant-Colonel Jones fulfilled my utmost expecta- 
tions. I repeat my assertion at Fair Oaks : I am satis- 
fied with the conduct of my brigade, — none will gainsay 
it." 

During the battle General Burns won the highest 
praise and the enthusiastic admiration of his men. 
Wherever the fight seemed to be the hottest, there was 
Burns with his face stained with blood, cheering and 
rallying the men. At the time some of the Reserves 
were temporarily repulsed, and were falling back through 
our lines, he rode into their midst, and by his appeals to 
their pride succeeded in stopping their retreat and turn- 
ing their faces again toAvard the enemy. 



THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT. , 87 

The loss of the brigade in the action of Glendale is 
unknown, but could not have been heavy. The Sixty- 
Ninth, which was more exposed than the others, reported 
seven killed, twenty-two wounded, and five taken pris- 
oners. 

From the succession of desperate charges made by the 
enemy rushing on our batteries, which poured volleys of 
case-shot and shrapnel into their ranks, they must have 
lost very heavily. Long after dark their torches could • 
be seen in the woods before our line searching for the 
wounded. 

At midnight the rear-guard of the army again started 
towards the James. As the enemy were directly in front, 
the movement had to be executed with care. -Each regi- 
ment in turn, quietly leaving its position, moved into the 
road over which the army had passed. The pickets 
remained on their posts for an hour longer, and while 
waiting for the order to join the column listened with 
sad hearts to the groans of the wounded, mingled with 
the soft hum of insects and the cries of the whippoor- 
will. 

The morning of July 1st found the Army of the Po- 
tomac concentrated on Malvern Hill, a strong position 
near the James River. Here the whole of the trains, 
ambulances, and siege-guns were sheltered. As the 
worn-out troops reached this elevation and saw the river 
with the Monitors ready for action, they threw their 
knapsacks on the ground and laid down to rest, believ- 
ing that this day would pass without a fight. 

Each division upon its arrival was placed in line of 
battle. Porter's Corps, with the artillery reserve, held 
the left, with Couch's Division on his right. Next to 



88 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

Couch were Kearney and Hooker ; next Sedgwick and 
Richardson ; next Smith and Slocum ; then the remain- 
der of Keyes's Corps, forming a curved line extending to 
the river. Most of the ground in front of our lines to 
the right was wooded, and it was protected by slashings, 
while the left flanks were protected by gunboats. 

In this position at seven a.m. our troops were resting, 
some having fallen asleep the moment arms were stacked, 
when the enemy suddenly opened on us with an enfilading 
fire of artillery, and the preliminary movements of the 
battle of Malvern Hill began. 

Until after two o'clock the fighting was principally 
between the batteries of the two armies, enlivened occa- 
sionally with a noisy aifair on the skirmish line. During 
this first conflict of artillery the brigade supported a 
battery, and in doing so was subjected to a heavy cross- 
fire, but, with the exception of two men killed, it sus- 
tained no loss. When the Confederates commenced the 
infantry attack at three o'clock against Porter on the 
left, and made repeated charges on the three tiers of bat- 
teries of the reserve artillery, we were ordered to protect 
the right flank of the army. From our elevated position 
we could overlook most of the operations going on at 
the left, and as we heard the loud cheers of our troops 
engaged, and saw each repulse of the enemy, the un- 
pleasant remembrance of the struggles and marches of 
the last few days was almost lost in the thoughts of 
victory. 

At nine P.M. our division fell into line and marched 
a short distance on the Malverton road towards Rich- 
mond. The men were in the best of spirits, and as one 
said to another " We've done retreating, — McClellan is 



THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT. 89 

going to Kichmoiicl !'' the desire to advance became con- 
tagious. After halting a half-hour an officer rode up 
to our general with an order^ and we were moved again ; 
this time with our backs to the enemy. The disappoint- 
ment was a sad one, and some of the men could scarcely 
restrain their tears. After the three-months' campaign 
on the Peninsula, with all its privations, the perils of 
battle, and the wearisome fatigue of the march, to make 
a retreat when victory seemed within the grasp required 
all the fortitude of men to exhibit the obedience of sol- 
diers. 

Dispositions had been made through the day for the 
reception of the various corps at Harrison's Landing, 
on the James River, seven miles from Malvern. There 
was but one road leading to this place, and it was totally 
unequal to the passage of a large army in one night, 
and to facilitate the march every by-path and wood 
track had been explored by cavalry during the day, and 
was now made use of by the troops. 

Soon after the movement began we had one of the 
thunder-storms that appear to be coincident with a great 
battle, and this added very seriously to the embarrass- 
ments of the march. All the night the " grand army'' 
was struggling along through the rain and mud ; the 
artillery and w^agons occupying the roads, and the in- 
fantry moving on either side in the fields or through the 
Avoods. Occasionally squads of men, tired of stumbling 
through the bushes, would try the road, only to be jostled 
back again by passing teams or cavalry. 

There were so many obstacles and delays on this night- 
march that, although the distance was but short, it was 
long after daylight when the last of the columns reached 



90 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

the landino^. Sedo^wlck's Division was located in a 
large wheat-field, and the moment the regiments broke 
ranks the men gathered the straw for resting-places, and, 
with perfect indifference to the rain, or even to the sound 
of the cannon firing on the rear-guard, laid down to 
sleep, perhaps to dream of the future. 



CHAPTER IX. 



pope's campaign. 



The 4tli of July, 1862, found the different corps of 
the Army, of the Potomac established in camps within 
the radius of five miles from Harrison^s Landing, on the 
James. So far as the result of the recent operations of 
this campaign could be interpreted by the soldiers, the 
advance on Richmond, for the present at least, had come 
to an inglorious termination. In spite, however, of the 
depression existing among the troops incidental to this 
failure, there was a feeling of congratulation among 
them upon the bearing of the army during the move- 
ments, which was well expressed in the address of Gen- 
eral McClellan issued this day : 

" Soldiers of the Army of the Potomac, — Your 
achievements of the last ten days have illustrated the 
valor and endurance of the American soldier. Attacked 
by superior forces, and without the hope of reinforce- 
ments, you have succeeded in changing your base of 
operations by a flank movement, always regarded as the 
most hazardous of military expedients. You have saved 
all your material, all your trains, and all your guns ex- 
cept a few lost in battle ; and you have taken in return 
guns and colors from the enemy. Upon your march 

91 



92 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

you have been assailed day after day with desperate 
fury, by men of tlie same race and nation, skillfully 
massed and led. Under every disadvantage of numbers, 
and necessarily of position also, you have in every con- 
flict beaten back your foes with enormous slaughter. 
Your conduct ranks you among the celebrated armies of 
history. No one will now question that each of you 
may always with pride say, ^ I belonged to the Army of 
the Potomac !' On this, our nation's birthday, we de- 
clare to our foes, who are rebels against the best interests 
of mankind, that this army shall enter the capital of 
this so-called Confederacy ; that our national constitution 
shall prevail ; and that the Union, which alone can in- 
sure internal peace and external security to each State, 
^ must and shall be preserved,' cost what it may in time, 
treasure, and blood." 

For a general description of the entire campaign, 
we were dependent upon the accounts published by the 
press of the country. As to that portion of the opera- 
tions in which the Second Corps was directly engaged, 
there was no need to supplement experience with con- 
gratulatory orders or details from journals, however care- 
fully written. 

It is to be hoped that the most ignorant among the 
soldiers of that gallant corps did not possess the egotism 
that would lead him to suppose that his corps w^as com- 
posed of better material, or had exhibited more endur- 
ance or heroism than the other commands of the army, 
and in the announcement that the Second Corps was 
always victorious in the Seven Days' Fight, we mean to 
institute no envious comparison. Armies, as well as 



POPE'S CAMPAIGN. 93 

individuals, are subject to the Providence which watches 
over and directs the movements of men, and it fell to 
our lot to meet success. 

At the close of the battle of Gaines^s Mills, on the 
27th, the brigades of Meagher and French, of the Second 
Corps, arriving at the moment when all seemed lost, 
drove the enemy and restored the lines. On the 29th,. 
when it came the turn of the corps to join in the flank 
movement, the enemy were twice handsomely repulsed : 
in the morning at Peach Orchard, by the Seventy-First 
and Fifty-Third ; and in the afternoon at Savage Sta- 
tion, by the Philadelphia Brigade, aided by the First. 
In this fight the enemy had four brigades, Cobb and 
Kershaw coming down the Nine-mile road, while Toombs 
and another advanced by the Williamsburg road. One 
of the Confederate commands — Cobb's Brigade — had 
twenty-f even hundred men engaged, of whom only fif- 
teen hundred were able to enter the fight at Malvern 
Hill. At Glcndale, the services of the corps, through 
the charge of the Sixty-Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers 
and the firmness of the Seventy-First Pennsylvania and 
Nineteenth Massachusetts, were of the highest import- 
ance; while at the decided victory of Malvern Hill, 
Meagher's Irish Brigade of the old Second Corps fought 
most gallantly. 

This historical monument upon which we are inscrib- 
ing the achievements of the Second Corps would lack 
completeness without the name of the grand old leader. 
General Edwin V. vSumner, who, by his prompt decisions, 
swift movements in action, and indomitable perseverance, 
gave spirit and character to the corps, which it retained 
with his name long after he had left the commaixl. h\ 

9 



94 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

action he always seemed to know the post of danger, and 
when necessary to expose himself never faltered. Jeal- 
ous of his own reputation, he was equally thoughtful in 
awarding just credit to others ; and while frank in ac- 
knowledging merit, he was careful that praise should not 
be wrongfully bestowed. At Glendale, when he turned 
Owen's regiment over to General Hooker, he said, 
" Hooker, this is your fight ; place this regiment where 
you want it.'' And it is also stated, that after the arrival 
at Harrison's Landing, and after written reports were 
received at corps headquarters from subordinate coin- 
manders, there was one that finished the description of 
the movements with a complimentary allusion to the 
staff officers, adding the further remark that " Colonel 

, who was absent on duty in Xew York, would no 

doubt have distinguished himself had he been present." 
General Sumner indorsed the report, " Respect^illy re- 
turned. Fulsome adulation of absent officers cannot be 
permitted." 

The journals that afforded us information about those 
portions of the campaign that we had not witnessed, 
were also filled with discussions about the ability, and 
even the patriotism of the army commander. General 
McClellan. A few of these papers went still further, 
and expressed doubts of his physical courage, as well as 
of his ability to command a large army. Upon the sub- 
ject of General McClellan's strategic ability, critics will 
always differ, and as to the wisdom manifested in the 
Peninsular campaign, intelligent men can form a clearer 
opinion Avhen the future historian shall have the oppor- 
tunity to compare evidence and documents not yet given 
to the public with facts that are known, and submit the 



POPE'S CAMPAIGN. 95 

whole trutli to tlie world. A soldier who has been 
properly instructed and disciplined should shrink from 
attempting to criticise the orders or movements of his 
commanding officer ; at the same time it is his duty to 
correct false reports regarding his personal bearing. The 
statement that General McClellan visited the Galena 
during portions of June 30th and July 1st is probably 
correct ; but it is equally certain that he was seen with 
the Philadelphia Brigade during the heavy cannonading 
on the morning of July 1st at Malvern, and also in the 
afternoon, during the severe infantry and artillery fight, 
with Fitz John Porter. 

The continuous strain and excitement of the last 
few days were succeeded by a sense of fatigue and loss 
of energy, and the state of the army was not improved 
by the climate, or by the location in which it was placed. 
Summer sickness was almost universal, though not of a 
type likely to prove dangerous. By means of steamers, 
supplies and medical stores were more easily obtained 
than at the former base, and the surgeons were generally 
faithful in their attention to both sick and Avounded. 
In this branch of the service our brigade Avas fortu- 
nate. Surgeons Martin Rizer, of the Seventy-Second, 
John Eakin, Bernard McNeill, Justin Dwindle, and 
others were attentive to their duties and popular with 
the men. 

The Sanitary Commission, at this period of the war, 
had become so well organized that it was a power for 
accomplishing a great amount of good. The steamer 
John Brooks was kept continually plying back and forth 
to AVashington, bringing stores and supplies that helped 
in many cases to facilitate the recovery of the sick, by 



96 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

furnishins: articles of food and nourishment not readily 
obtained from the medical stores of the army. 

The attention of commanding officers was now given 
to the work of reorganizing the regiments, and filling 
positions made vacant by casualties. In our brigade, 
the Seventy-First, heretofore composed of fifteen com- 
panies, was reduced to ten, and the supernumerary offi- 
cers were mustered out. General Barns, who was absent 
on leave, was temporarily succeeded by Colonel Baxter, 
who was the senior officer present. 

The actual casualties of the brigade during the cam- 
paign on the Peninsula are not accurately reported, either 
in detail or aggregate ; but while the loss in action was 
considerable, it is probable the number placed on the 
list of absent by reason of sickness was equally as large. 

The loss reported by the army in killed, wounded, and 
missing from June 26th to July 1st, inclusive, was fifteen 
thousand two hundred and forty-nine ; of this list there 
were two thousand one hundred and eleven belonging to 
the Second Corps. 

While reorganization was in progress on the James, 
changes of an important character were made among the 
troops intrusted with the defense of Washington, both 
in their line of operations and in their commanding offi- 
cers. The corps of IMcDowell — Avhich the men so fre- 
quently expected to join them before Richmond — and 
the commands of Banks and Fremont Avere formed into 
one army, under Major-General John Pope. This Army 
of Virginia, as it was called, numbered about fifty thou- 
sand men, of whom about five thousand were cavalry. 

General Pope assumed command of this force on the 
28th of June, but did not take the field until near the 



POPE'S CAMPAIGN. 



97 



close of July, issuing his orders from Washington City. 
This delay was occasioned by the absence of Major- 
General Halleck, the new commander-in-chief, who 
arrived from the West on the 23d of July and assumed 
the direction of both armies. 

On taking command, Pope issued an order containing 
some sentences that seemed at the time as if meant to 
reflect upon the commander of the Army of the Potomac. 
Speaking of his plans, he says, ^^ I hear constantly of 
taking strong positions and holding them, — of lines of 
retreat and bases of supplies. Let us discard such ideas ; 
success and glory are in the advance, — disaster and 
shame lurk in the rear.'' These and sentiments of a like 
character were published to the troops in the form of an 
address. 

Without criticising the motive or the taste that 
prompted the issue of this or similar documents during 
the war to soldiers in the field, it is not presumptuous 
to say that the effect produced by their publication was 
of no practical value. If a general can inform his 
men that the enemy have met with a disaster in some 
of their fields of operation, or that reinforcements are 
on their way for his own army, or if he can convey any 
information of interest, it may inspirit his troops ; other- 
wise he had better omit his bulletins. 

The main divisions of the Army of Virginia were 
located at Culpej^er Court-House and Fredericksburg 
about the latter part of July. Immediately after Au- 
gust 1st the Confederate army began to move towards 
the Rapidan on its way to the North. Its advance, 
driving back the cavalry picket at Paccoon Ford, crossed 
on the 8tli of August. Pushing on the next day to 

9* 



98 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

Cedar Mountain,, the advance of Pope's army, under 
General Banks, was met, and a battle ensued, with severe 
losses on both sides. From this date commenced a 
series of eno!;aocements, some of them of considerable 
magnitude, which led to the gradual retreat of General 
Pope before Lee's army. 

In the mean time President Lincoln had issued a call 
for three hundred thousand men for nine months' service, 
and at the same time General Halleck had issued an order 
for the withdrawal of the Army of the Potomac from 
the Peninsula. 

The entire month of July was one of inactivity at 
Harrison's Landing^. On Auo^ust 4th a reconnoissance 
in force was made to Malvern Hill, in which our brigade 
participated and acted as rear-guard on the return to 
camp. 

Preliminary steps were now taken towards removal 
from this locality. The sick, numbering twelve thou- 
sand five hundred, were placed on transports and sent 
away ; and the troops, with two days' rations in haver- 
sacks and six in the wagons, commenced moving on 
the retreat shortly after. Our corps left its old camp 
and its unwholesome surroundings, with its innumerable 
flies and worse insects, on August 16th. No matter 
what uncertainty might hang over the future, there was 
none among the command who looked upon the place 
on leaving it with tearful eyes. 

After passing through the venerable old village of 
Charles City Court-House, and possibly carrying away 
some of its musty records, the Chickahominy was reached 
on the evening of the 18th. The river was crossed on 
a ponton bridge, one of the longest yet constructed, and 



POPE'S CAMPAIGN. 99 

the march continued via Williamsburg to Yorktown, 
which we reached on the 20th at noon. 

The brigade encamped at this familiar place^ and, in 
addition to the opportunity afforded of visiting the old 
ground, the men had the luxury of a bath in the York 
River. The line of march was taken up the next day 
and continued via Big Bethel to a distance of five miles 
from Hampton, making a march of tAventy miles. On 
the 22d Ave marched eight miles to Newport News, ar- 
riving at noon ; the latter part of the journey was made 
through the drenching of a Peninsular thunder and rain 
storm. 

The weather during the march from Harrison's Land- 
ing to Big Bethel was exceedingly hot, and the roads 
very dusty. During its continuance, the officers had a 
renewed experience of the difficulty of providing rations 
while on a march. Had it not been for the corn-fields, 
with the sweet roasting-ears along portions of the route, 
both men and officers would have suffered. All through 
the cultivated sections of this country the citizens appeared 
to have adopted the advice of Jefferson Davis, " to an- 
ticipate a long war, and plant, instead of tobacco, corn 
and wheat." For this unintentional hospitality they 
had the thanks of the Philadelphia Brigade, and after 
its visitation they no doubt realized the truth of the 
saying, ^' One soweth and another reapeth.'^ 

At one halting-place there was an amusing illustra- 
tion of tactics as applied to foraging. The division 
halted for bivouac in front of an immense corn-field, 
which was surrounded by a post-and-rider fence. The 
men stacked arms, and the moment the order '^ Break 
ranks" was given, the entire body rushed for the roasting- 



100 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

corn. At the full run details were made of comrades 
to secure rails for the fires, while others were selected to 
seize the corn ; and it seemed but a few minutes before 
there was not a stalk left standing, or a vestige of fence 
to be seen. 

After being '^ ready to move'' all the preceding night, 
the brigade was marched to the wharf on the 25th, and 
the Seventy-First embarked on one steamer while the 
other three regiments were placed on another, — both 
bound up the Potomac. The steamship Baltic, con- 
taining the three regiments, ran aground on the 27th, 
and the troops, after some delay, were transferred to 
another vessel, and arrived oiF Aquia Creek, where the 
vessel lay until a.m. of the 28th. Without being 
transhipped, the troops were ordered to Alexandria, 
where they landed at nine A.M., and joined the division 
in camp four miles outside of the town towards Fairfax 
Court-House. 

Whatever opinion may be held about the addresses 
issued by General Pope to his troops, he expressed a 
truthful experience when he wrote, " disaster and shame 
lurk in the rear.'' If he had also said that the most 
depressing rumors and false reports are frequently circu- 
lated in the rear, — disheartening tales, which add to the 
"shame and disaster," — he would have portrayed the 
state of things which we met upon our arrival at Alex- 
andria. 

The town was filled with stories of Pope's defeat and 
" terrible losses," and of the advance of an " immense 
Rebel force" towards the Potomac, and with other rumors 
of similar character. These reports are common, no 
doubt, to all armies, and frequently have their origin 



POPE'S CAMPAIGN. 101 

with stragglers, wlio, scenting the danger from afar, 
sneak into the woods to refresh themselves while their 
fellows are fighting. The contempt in which these beings 
are held by the true soldier was w^ell illustrated by an 
inscription placed upon a tree along the road over which 
our brigade was marching, — '^ Coffee-boilers take notice: 
the enemy have left the front/' Every skulker we met 
had the same story about his regiment being cut to pieces, 
until we began to regret that the enemy had not com- 
pleted the work and whittled the stragglers. 

At six P.M. on the 29th Ave w^ere ordered to march 
towards Chain Bridge, a distance of twenty miles. At 
midnight, after accomplishing two-thirds of the distance, 
the brigade was halted, and slept by the roadside. The 
next morning we arrived at Chain Bridge, W'here the 
corps Avas massed Avith the promise of a day's rest. 
Taking advantage of this, a number of the soldiers in- 
dulged in the luxury of AA^ashing their shirts; Avhile thus 
engaged heavy firing Avas heard toAvards Bull Run, and 
the command Avas ordered to ^' fall in" for a march. At 
noon the Second Corps started for Fairfax and Centre- 
ville, Avith many of the men in a semi-nude condition, 
and others almost barefooted, the ground cutting their 
feet at every step. 

At noon of August 31st, after a march of forty miles, 
Avith only tAA'O hours' sleep and part of the distance 
through a rain-storm, the corps reached Centreville. 
During this severe march the men kept up Avonderfully, 
and most of those Avho did fall from exhaustion rejoined 
their regiments before "Old Sumner" went into position. 

The next day a reconnoissance Avas made by the divi- 
sion, the brigade being temporarily under the command 



102 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

of General O. O. Howard. After moving three miles 
and encountering but little opposition, the expedition 
returned, having accomplished its purpose. 

This night the army of Pope commenced retreating to 
the works about Washington, and the duty of rear-guard 
was assigned to Sedgwick's Division. We took a posi- 
tion on September 1st, near Chantilly, wdiere the gallant 
Kearney had lost his life, and awaited the passage of the 
last of the column. At four o'clock our time came, 
and, as the division moved back slowly so as to give 
those ahead time to get out of the way, we had several 
lively skirmishes with the enemy, who were following. 
Towards dusk General Sullv, commandino; the First 
Brigade, became tired of this, and made use of his ex- 
perience among the Indians. Using the Philadelphia 
Brigade as a decoy, he formed an ambush with the First 
Minnesota. Upon the advance of the unsuspecting 
enemy they met a severe volley, that stopped any further 
annoyance. 

At midnight the division arrived at Langley's, near 
Chain Bridge, well-nigh exhausted ; some of the men 
were almost asleep while walking along the road, and 
others were giddy from loss of rest and lack of food. 

On the 2d of September our corps crossed the Poto- 
mac to Tenallytown, and Pope's campaign ended. 



CHAPTER X. 



ANTIETAM. 



The Nineteenth Massachusetts Regiment, of Sedg- 
wick's Division, was so well drilled by its officers, that 
when in position of line of battle the color-sergeant and 
right and left general guides were ordered to indicate a 
new alignment some distance from the old one, facing 
either flank or rear, and the command was given, 
" Break ranks and form on the color," the men would 
instantly rush in an apparently disordered mass and 
assume their places in the new formation. This was 
done so perfectly that on more than one occasion it was 
necessary to give the order " By the right flank," after 
the line was re-formed, to convince a general officer that 
the men actually had their proper positions. 

In spite of the disorganized appearance of the troops 
and the disheartening circumstances attending tlieir gath- 
ering about the defenses at Washington, there existed 
among them sentiments of duty and lofty patriotism, 
joined to a firm determination to sustain the honor of the 
flag wherever it might lead, or in whatever position it 
might call them to be placed. To move forward at the 
call of duty, only the voice of a leader was needed. 

President Lincoln, who had the wonderful gift of 
doing what the present good of the service demanded, 

103 



104 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

regardless of the prejudices of those around hira, and 
sometimes without considering his own personal feelings, 
directed the issuing of the following order : 

" Washington, September 2d, 1862. 
'< General Order No. 122. 

*^ Major-General McClellan will have command of the 
fortifications of Washington, and of all the troops for 
the defense of the Capital. 

" By command of Major-General Halleck. 

" E. D. TowNSEND, A. A. G.' 



V 



No matter what may be the opinion of military critics 
concerning General McClellan, no one can successfully 
deny the fact that his name was a talisman at this time 
with the soldiers, and that upon the issuing of this order 
there was unusual satisfaction. 

The work of reorganizing a compact force out of the 
remnants of the two armies was begun at once, and con- 
tinued while on the march. Burnside's Ninth Corps 
w^as added, and placed under the command of General 
Keno ; and the First Corps, McDowell's old command, 
was placed under General Hooker. General Sumner, 
while retaining the Second Corps, had control of the 
Twelfth, Banks's old command, which was under the 
veteran General Mansfield. General H. J. Hunt took 
command of the reserve artillery, in which position he 
was retained until the end of the war. The cavalry were 
placed under General Pleasonton. This new arrangement 
formed an effective force, ready to take the field in the 
Maryland campaign, of eighty-seven thousand men of 
all arms. 



ANTIETAM. 105 

The Philadelphia Brigade remained under the com- 
mand of General O. O. Howard during the continued 
absence of General Burns. All of the regiments had 
received additions to their effective strength by the return 
of officers and men who were convalescent from wounds 
or sickness. Among the former, Colonel Isaac J. AVistar, 
now partially recovered from his wounds at Ball's Bluff, 
resumed command of the Seventy-First, having for his 
lieutenant-colonel John Markoe, who had been pro- 
moted June 1st. 

In the Seventy-Second, Captain Samuel Roberts, a 
faithful and reliable officer, was promoted major, his 
company (A) being under conmiand of a young officer 
of fine promise. Lieutenant Adolphus AV. Peabody, who 
had just returifed for duty. There were also promotions 
among some of the non-commissioned officers of compa- 
nies, to fill vacancies in each regiment. 

The brigade was in good condition, and, although nu- 
merically weaker, compared with the roster at the time of 
landing on the Peninsula, it had increased its effective- 
ness by the rough experiences of war. " It would still 
perform," as Burns used to say, " what was expected of it." 

AVhile cheerful anticipations of the future of the army 
and increased enthusiasm were being manifested, the 
troops could not refrain from contrasting their position 
this day, September 2d, with that of the month preced- 
ing. At that time the two great armies of the Union 
were threatening Lee from different points, and he was 
the defender of the Confederate capital. To-day the 
same armies are crouching under the guns of the defenses 
at Washington ; one of them foiled in its advance and 

the other disastrously defeated. 

10 



106 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

Although this transformation had not taken place 
without the infliction of great losses upon the enemy, 
our armies had suffered in casualties to as great an ex- 
tent, and in the material of war the destruction far ex- 
ceeded theirs. Every regiment had been depleted by 
sickness, wounds, and death, and in our brigade as in 
others, hundreds of comrades, who started from Wash- 
ington for the Peninsula with as bright hopes of success 
as those who to-day survive, had left the armies of earth 
forever. These blasted hopes, sundered ties, and homes 
made desolate are only a portion of the desolation in- 
flicted by the demon of disunion. 

On the day that McClellan assumed command of the 
army. General Lee was joined by a fresh division from 
Richmond. This command, under D. H. Hill, was 
pushed forward to Leesburg, and soon the whole Con- 
federate army, after making a slight feint in the direc- 
tion of Chain Bridge, moved towards the Upper Potomac, 
where crossings were made by the fords between Nolen's 
Ferry and Point of Pocks. 

On September 8th, General Lee issued an appeal to 
the citizens of Maryland to throw off the ^' foreign 
yoke" and enjoy '^ the rights of freemen.'' In this 
paper, while invoking the people ^' to restore the inde- 
pendence and sovereignty of the State," he gave every 
assurance that he had the power to assist them ^' in re- 
gaining their rights." This address was met with cold- 
ness by the majority of the people of Western Maryland, 
and in spite of Confederate entreaties, be it said to the 
honor of the citizens of this section, they stood aloof 
from the enemy. 

The advance of General McClellan was made on five 



ANTIETAM. 107 

diifereiit roads, the columns being so disposed as to cover 
at the same time the cities of Baltimore and AYashington. 
The left flank rested on the Potomac, and the right on 
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The right wing, con- 
sisting of the First and Ninth Corps, was under General 
Burnslde; the centre, of the Second and Twelfth, under 
General Sumner ; and the left wing under General 
Franklin. 

The Second Corps left Tenallytown at noon on the 
4th, and marched ten miles, halting at night near Rock- 
ville. The next day a position was assumed a short 
distance beyond the town, where the command remained 
for a few days. iVfter resuming the forward movement 
by way of Clarksburg, the corps was halted at noon of 
the 11th, on an eminence overlooking Hyattstown. This 
place was found in possession of a small force of the 
enemy, and Sedgwick, who led the column, detailed the 
Seventy-First Regiment to advance as skirmishers and 
occupy the village. This was quickly done, the enemy 
retiring to the hill beyond and taking another position, 
from which they were also speedily driven. The regi- 
ment was now reinforced by the First Minnesota, along 
with a section of artillery, and directed to maintain itself, 
which it did during the night with constant skirmishing. 
At daylight the enemy retired, and the entire corps 
came up and moved forward in pursuit. 

On the 14th, Sumner^s column passed through Fred- 
erick, and was greeted by the loyal citizens of the place 
with a reception as handsome as it was unex[)ected. 
Fla«:s that had been concealed while the enemv held 
possession, now decorated the dwellings and were wav- 
ing along with the emblem that made Barbara Freitchie 



108 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

historical ; and on the streets by Avhich the army entered 
the people pressed forward to greet the soldiers with 
expressions of warmest sympathy. 

These patriotic manifestations were not confined to 
the town of Frederick, but frequently along tlie line of 
march through this portion of Maryland the inhabitants 
gave the strongest evidence of attachment to the Union 
cause. Ladies of all ages and stations in life stood by 
the roadside, in front of their dwellings, with pails of 
milk, or, if the supply had been exhausted, a cup of 
cold w^ater and a word of cheer ; while the men who had 
been spared by the Confederate army that had preceded 
us were always ready to give information of value. 

After passing through Frederick and halting for a 
short time, Sumner again pushed on towards South 
Mountain. The sound of the battles in progress at 
Turner's Gap and Crampton^s Pass had the usual influ- 
ence on the "old soldier'^ of increasing his speed towards 
the front. Generals Sumner and Sedgwick were so noted 
for rapid movements, when advancing towards a conflict, 
that the men used to say that their commanders, who 
were both cavalry officers, had forgotten their troops 
were not mounted. 

It was late in the evening when the column reached 
Turner's Gap, and by that time the fight was over. 
During the march through the day we could continually 
see the smoke of the musketry and the exploding shells 
of the forces engaged in conflict on the side of the moun- 
tain. 

At one A.M. on the 15th, we pushed forward to a 
point near Boonsboro' Gap, and, although the distance 
was but six miles, the march was exhausting on account 



ANTIETAM. 109 

of the roLiii'lmess of the road and the fatiii-ued condition 
of the men from continuous marching and loss of sleep. 
At noon our division was aocain sent forward, throuirh 
Boonsboro' and Keedysville, halting one mile beyond the 
latter point, having reached the main force of the Con- 
federate army at about dark. 

At daylight of the 16th, a few shells whizzed over 
our heads from the Confederate line of battle, on An- 
tietam Creek. This stream, made famous by one of the 
bloodiest battles of the war, is of no great size ; it flows 
through a very beautiful valley, and empties into the 
Potomac six miles above Harper's Ferry. It is spanned 
by four turnpike or stone bridges, three of which the 
enemy had strongly guarded, and it has but few fords 
that can be crossed by artillery or wagons. In this well- 
selected position General Lee had determined to collect 
his scattered forces and give battle to the Union army. 

At dawn of the 16th, the Confederate artillery opened 
a very heavy fire upon our batteries and on some portions 
of our line. • 

There was no infantry engagement except the usual 
sharp-shooting practice, until the afternoon. At two 
o'clock, McCIellan seemed to be ready, after considerable 
delay, and Hooker commenced the movement by crossing 
the Antietam near the upper bridge. With the divisions 
of Ricketts, Meade, and Doubleday, he attacked the Con- 
federate left, evidently intending to turn their ])()sition. 
General Sumner was directed to second this operation by 
throwing over the stream during the niglit the Twelfth 
Corps, under General Mansfield, and to hold the Second 
Corps ready to move at daylight on the next morning. 
In this operation Hooker was successful, having struck 

10=^ 



110 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

the enemy, and after a severe fight, which was begun by 
the Pennsylvania Reserves and lasted until night, he 
drove them back. Hooker's advance rested on their 
arms through the night, in the position they had taken. 
During- the evening; General Mansfield executed his 
order, and crossed the Antietam with his command, 
bivouacking about one mile to the rear of Hooker. 

Just before dark the men of Sedgwick's Division were 
furnished with eighty rounds of ammunition, and or- 
dered to be prepared to move early the next morning. 
Both armies lay down to rest with the expectation of^ a 
severe engagement on the coming day ; and no doubt to 
many on both sides, pictures of homes at the North or in 
the sunny South, and pleasant scenes, with the greeting 
of familiar faces, were recalled by memory before sleep 
closed the eyelids on the night before the battle. 

The morning of September 17th dawned with a clear 
sky upon the scene of conflict, and by the time the sun 
had risen the Second Corps had made every preparation 
to advance. The men had piled their knapsacks in heaps 
on the ground which they had occupied, and, with every 
thing likely to encumber them laid aside, and in light 
marching order, they were ready for the fight. 

The battle was opened at daylight by Hooker, who 
made a vigorous attack on Stonewall Jackson, holding 
the Confederate left. His first object was to push the 
enemy back from his front and seize the Hagerstown 
road and the woods about the Danker church, in which 
the Confederate line was placed. After an obstinate 
fight, lasting an hour, and during which our batteries 
assisted materially by an enfilading fire, the three bri- 
gades of the enemy were driven out of the woods imme- 



ANTIETAM. \\\ 

diately in front of Hooker, across a corn-fiekl, towards 
the Hagerstown road, losing half of their number. Gen- 
eral Hooker then advanced his centre, to seize the road 
and the woods beyond. In this movement oar troops 
were met by the reserve of Jackson's Division with a 
murderous fire. This body of the enemy in large num- 
bers issued from the woods and fell heavily on Meade's 
Brigades in the corn-field, which brigades were much 
broken. To support Meade, General HartsuflP's Brigade 
w^as sent in by Hooker, and in passing over the field it 
was met by a severe fire. 

In the mean time the second line, under Mansfield, 
was moved up from the position in w'hich it had bivou- 
acked to the support of Hooker's Brigade. AVhile it 
Avas deploying, the veteran commander — General INIans- 
field — was mortally wounded. The command of the 
corps now devolved on General Williams, and the divi- 
sion of the latter on General Crawford, who, with his 
brigade and that of General Gordon, advanced across 
this hotly-contested corn-field and soized part of the 
coveted woods on the Hagerstown road. At the same 
time the second division of Mansfield's Corps, under 
General Greene, cleared its front, and advanced to the 
left of the Dunker church. 

All these movements of Hooker and his supports 
were attended with heavy loss, and just as the troops 
were beginning to falter, and General Hooker was being 
carried severely wounded. from the field, the Second 
Corps, under General Sumner, arrived an the ground. 

After being prepared for action since daylight, the 
Second Corps at eight o'clock was ordered to move to 
the front ; starting from Keedysville towards the right, 



112 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

through some woods, then down a hill to the Antietam 
Creek, which the men waded, taking care to keep their 
ammunition above the rushing water. The point of 
crossing was at the first ford above bridge number one. 
On the other side of the stream we ascended a hill, then 
through the open country to the right, until Miller's 
house Avas reached, where line of battle was formed by 
the left flank while marching. 

The division of Sedgwick had the right of the corps ; 
then came French, then Smith. The First Brigade had 
the right of oiir division, and was supported by the 
Second, under command of General O. O. Howard, in 
the following order : One Hundred and Sixth on the 
right, then the Sixty-Ninth and Seventy-Second, with 
the Seventy-First on the left. 

From the place the brigade had formed its line of 
battle to the point of attack was nearly one mile. All 
of this distance was moved over in battalion front, the 
movement bringing us through pieces of woods, across 
fences, through barn-yards and other obstacles, which 
continually threw the line in confusion. In addition to 
this we were subjected to a heavy artillery fire from the 
enemy ; but, in spite of all opposition, the advance never 
stopped until the fatal corn-field was reached. Advanc- 
ing over this field, where the dead and dying of both 
sides lay scattered, and passing in one place almost an 
entire 'Confederate line of battle lying still in death, 
the Hagerstown road was finally reached. Here Gen- 
eral Sedgwick gave the command, ^' Push into the 
woods.^^ 

At this moment the left of the brigade was on the 
road near the Dunker church. Our own troops, already 



ANTIETAM. 113 

engaged and gallantly fighting, on this line were the two 
brigades of Crawford and Gordon. The men of the 
Second Brigade sprang over the fence, and, crossing the 
road, leaped over the fence on the other side and entered 
the woods, at once coming under a terrific fire. The 
place in which we had entered was filled with an out- 
cropping of large boulders, and was heavily wooded, 
but without undergrowth. On the side of the woods 
towards the enemy the ground was depressed, and beyond 
this was a ridge, from which batteries were directing a 
severe fire upon our brigade over the heads of their 
troops. The fight now raged with extreme violence, but 
the men seemed in the best of spirits and were confident 
of victory. 

At the time our division was thus engaged, French, 
on our left, had been ordered to attack, and the battle 
was being desperately fought on the ground about the 
Dunker church. 

The line on which the Second Brigade was fighting 
was oblique to the Hagerstown road, and from its loca- 
tion, and especially that of the regiments engaged in the 
woods, nothing could be seen of the connections on either 
flank. The men stood their ground well, and, feeling 
sure of their duty, looked to the front, firing as rapidly 
as they could load. 

Shortly after French became heavily engaged. General 
Sumner rode into the woods, where tlie contest was most 
severe, and gave a command. The noise of the battle 
was so deafening that only those about him could hear 
his Avords ; but, presuming he meant to " charge,'^ the 
men began to fix theit* bayonets. The general now rode 
among them and repeated, " Fall back ; you are in a bad 



114 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

position/^ This order was obeyed, but with great reluc- 
tance, some of the men, for fear they might receive a 
wound in the back, retiring with their faces towards the 
enemy. On emerging from the woods we found that 
Sumner was right : there was a gap between our left and 
the right of French's Division, through which the enemy 
had pushed a body of fresh troops, and these were turn- 
ins: our flank. This accounted also for the number of 
balls that were beginning to reach us from a new direc- 
tion. For the first time in its history Sedgwick's Divi- 
sion was compelled to retire before the enemy ; but, under 
the circumstances, we felt it to be no disgrace to yield to 
the judgment and obey the command of the brave old 
Sumner. 

The reg-iments of the brio^ade fell back at about ten 
o'clock, and on diiferent lines. Some of them took posi- 
tions at a fence on the other side of the corn-field, where 
they did effective service, along with a battery of Napo- 
leon guns, in stopping the Confederate advance. 

After the repulse of Sedgwick's Division, the heavy 
fio^htino^ on the rio^ht was virtually over : but it was con- 
tinned on the left Avith heavy losses and varying success 
until night-fall. Darkness closed the struggle along the 
entire line, and the murderous battle of Antietam was 
over. 

The engagement, although a victory in its results for 
the Union army, was attended Avith such terrible losses 
to both sides that it had the effect of a drawn battle. It 
has truly been said, " it was fought by driblets." The 
contest seldom involved the Avhole line at one time, but 
Avas confined, at different periods of the day, to localities. 
This sort of tactics enabled either party to concentrate 



ANTIETAM. 115 

fresh forces against tlie exhausted troops of the other 
and inflict heavy losses. 

Of the troops engaged on the right, the Second Divi- 
sion suffered probably the most. It had hardly come 
under fire before General Sedgwick was carried from 
the field severely wounded, and the command devolved 
on General Howard. The losses in the brigade were 
very heavy, but they are not officially given. The gen- 
eral estimate of casualties made by the compiler of 
" Bates's Military History" is one-third the number 
engaged. From reports of company officers and other 
testimony this is probably not far from correct. 

Among the killed were Captain Francis V. Bierwith 
and Lieutenants Joseph McHugh and James Dunn, of 
the Sixty-Ninth ; Lieutenants John Con very and Wil- 
liam Wilson, Seventy-First ; Captain Peter H. Willetts 
and Lieutenants Adolphus AV. Peabody and .Robert I. 
Parks, Seventy-Second ; Captain Timothy Clark and 
Lieutenant William Bryan, One Hundred and Sixth. 
Among the field-officers who were severely Avounded 
was the gallant Colonel Wistar, commanding Seventy- 
First, who had only rejoined his regiment a few days 
before; Major Devereaux, Sixty-Ninth, was also wounded 
under similar circumstances, and a number of line offi- 
cers were struck, and others made very narrow escapes. 
Colonel Morehead, of the One Hundred and Sixtli, had 
his horse shot under him, and was severely injured by 
his fall. Adjutant Pleis, of the same regiment,, while 
advancing in line had his horse killed by a round shot. 

The few names that are given of i\\Q commissioned 
officers who suffered, tell only a fragment of the story. 
There were brave hearts in the ranks, as well as among 



116 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

the officers, who went to their death fearlessly, and over 
whose memories loving friends have not ceased to mourn. 
Especially sorrowful w^as the death of Edmund Y. Col- 
lier, a private In the Seventy-Second. Mr. Collier was 
a young Englishman of very respectable connections; 
who w^as visiting in this country when the Rebellion 
broke out. With warm sympathy for the Union, he 
enlisted as a private, and in this battle fell mortally 
wounded ; so near the enemy that his body was not re- 
covered for hours afterwards. 

On the 18th, neither party seemed anxious to renew 
the fight, and the day was spent by our army in collect- 
ing the troops, attending to the wants of the wounded 
within our lines, and preparing for the morrow. That 
night Lee gathered his scattered forces, and in the dark- 
ness crossed the Potomac, yielding all hope of further 
aiding Maryland in " throwing off its foreign yoke." 

It is difficult to ascertain the casualties of the forces 
engaged in the battle of Antietam ; but from the appear- 
ance of the field on the 19th of September, the losses of 
the enemy were much heavier than ours. For three 
days after the retreat of Lee, our corps remained in this 
vicinity, and was engaged in burying the dead. Along 
the line, where Meagher's Irish Brigade had charged, 
there was a large number of dead, those of the enemy 
preponderating. This was the case also where Richard- 
son had been engaged. In the corn-field, the scene of 
repeated encounters, dead of both armies were scattered 
over the ground ; the large majority being Confederates. 
Intermingled with the slain were cattle that had been 
killed while pasturing. 

In the w^oods near the Hagerstown road, where the 



ANTIETAM. 117 

Philadelphia Brigade suifered so severely, our losses 
exceeded those of the enemy. These poor fellows had 
died in all sorts of positions ; some lying on their faces, 
others leaning against the rocks, and one man, a Confed- 
erate, was resting on his knees, Avith his eyes wide open 
and his hands grasping his rifle. On the slope, where 
the fire of our brigade had been directed, were one hun- 
dred and twenty dead Confederates who had been pre- 
pared for burial before their army had retreated. 

Similar scenes were witnessed all over the field of 
action on the right, and it seemed as though the firing 
had been unusually eifective. Where the artillery of our 
Aving had full sweep, the slaughter was very severe. On 
one piece of ground near the Hagerstowu road, almost 
an entire regiment of the enemy, in line of battle, were 
lying dead in two ranks, killed evidently while advanc- 
ing to charge. 

\yith the exception of that portion of the ground at 
Malvern, in front of Porter's batteries, this battle-field 
presented more carnage than we had yet Avitnessed ; and 
Avith hearts made heav^' by these sights, Ave moA^ed aAvay 
from the scene. 

The only consolidated returns of the strength of the 
brigade at this ])eriod, that are on file in the War De- 
partment, give the following aggregate of men and offi- 
cers ; and the difference between the numbers present at 
the two periods includes the losses on the Peninsula and 
in the battle of Antietam : 

11 



118 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 





Maech, 18G2. 


September 30th, 1862. 

1 


Present and 
Absent. 


Total Pres- 
ent. 


Present and 
Absent. 


Total Pres- 
ent. 


69th P. V. 
71st P. y. 

72d P. y. 

106th P. y. 

1 


879 
1002 
1289 

811 


726 

904 

1215 

779 


737 

820 

1197 

728 


486 
510 
681 
492 




3981 


3624 


3482 


2169 



CHAPTER XL 



harper's ferry. 



With the exception of a questionable movement by a 
detachment of Porter's Corps, whicli crossed the Poto- 
mac and attacked the Confederate rear-guard only to be 
repulsed and driven into the river, there was no imme- 
diate pursuit of the enemy by our forces. For some 
days after the battle, both armies acted as though they 
had enough fighting for the present and wanted rest. 
General Lee pursued his course leisurely down the Shen- 
andoah Valley, while McClellan lingered about the 
scenes of his recent exploits. 

Lieutenant Shewall, of the Seventy-Second, Avho was 
mortally wounded at Savage Station, and whose loss was 
sincerely regretted by a host of friends in the brigade, 
was an excellent actor and mimic. During the winter 
in camp, he frequently amused the officers with his illus- 
trations of prominent characters, and one of these was 
particularly suggestive of some experiences of army 
movements and grand tactics, as seen from our limited 
sphere of observation. 

As represented by Shewall, the chief of the army 
stationed in AYasliington had in his office an immense 
topographical map of the scat of war suspended against 
the wall. Upon the surface of this chart the positions 

119 



120 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

of the diiFerent corps and detachments were indicated 
by means of small wafers, fixed with pins easily inserted 
and removed from one locality to another. On each of 
these was inscribed the name of a command and the offi- 
cer in charge. To accomplish movements in a campaign 
while the chief remained in his chair, it was only neces- 
sary to give directions to a page by means of an indicator, 
and the transposition took place. For example : If 
General McClellan's army was at Alexandria, it could 
by this means be removed to Centreville at once, or even 
carried farther down the map, without waiting for trans- 
portation. This mythical plan worked as well as could 
be expected, except that occasionally a corps would be 
lost by the wafer becoming detached, or, what was worse, 
by being stuck, through the carelessness of the medium, 
into the wrong place. 

Whether either of these misfortunes had occurred to 
Sumner's Corps, it was not the province of subalterns 
to inquire, but for some good reason no movement took 
place until the 2 2d of September. At five a.m. on this 
day we moved away from the battle-field of Antietam, 
and, passing through Sharpsburg, reached the Potomac. 
General Williams, on the advance, seized Maryland 
Heights, and the Second Corps forded the river at Har- 
per's Ferry, and, pushing out to Bolivar, re-occupied 
the place. 

Here we were destined to spend all the beautiful 
month of October, the entire Army of the Potomac be- 
ing located in this vicinity, and occupied in refitting and 
preparing for an active campaign, until the chief was 
ready to move on the enemy. Within five days after 
the battle General INIcClellan began to call for reinforce- 



HARPER'S FERRY. 121 

meiits and made extensive requisitions for clothing and 
shoes for his men. In this latter demand he was met 
with as prompt a response as the circumstances would 
admit. As to the condition of the men, there is no 
doubt that an active movement commenced at once 
would have been attended with great privation, and 
in some cases with actual suffering. There had been no 
opportunity since leaving Harrison's Landing to obtain 
any clothing or shoes, and most of the men, in these 
respects, were in a deplorable condition. 

Mr. Bartram Ash mead, a private soldier, who served 
a full term of honorable service in the Seventy-Second 
Pennsylvania, gives an amusing account in his journal 
of the state of his clothing upon arrival at Harper's 
Ferry : 

" ]My wardrobe, averaging about the same as the rest 
of the troops, consisted of the following articles : 

" One pair of worn-out shoes. 

" One cap ; faded from blue to dingy gray. 

" One blouse ; color unknown. 

^' One pair of pantaloons ; ragged and soiled. 

" One pair of suspenders ; black from wear. 

" After waiting several days, we received a new outfit, 
and again presented a soldierly appearance. My old 
blouse being in material perfectly good, and wanting an 
extra coat, I thought I would try an experiment and 
give it the benefit of a good wash. Taking it down to 
the Shenandoah, I tied it fast to a limb, flung it in the 
roaring current between two rocks where it was entirely 
covered Avith water, and left it to the mercy of the tide. 
After being thus exposed for ten days I drew it out for 
inspection; but still presenting some signs of life I 

11* 



122 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

allowed it to remain in its old position, thinking 'time 
was the best remedy for all evils/ Owing to other 
dnties, I neglected to visit the place until after the lapse 
of two weeks, and I thought as I again drew it forth 
that surely all was right now ; but, alas ! life had nour- 
ished itself along the seams, and I despaired of ever 
having it in use again. With disappointed hopes I gave 
it to the waters, and as it sailed down the stream it 
seemed for all the world like a steamboat crowded with 
passengers.'' 

The inconveniences, of w^iich this sketch is a fair il- 
lustration, were borne by the men with good humor, and 
a disposition to draw some consolation from the fact that 
the condition of the enemy, as shown by the prisoners 
that were taken, was as bad and perhaps worse. Many 
of the Confederates Avere not only poorly clad, but pre- 
sented the appearance of having been in this situation 
for a considerable period of time. In this connection it 
is only fair to say that the people through the parts of 
Maryland where the enemy had been gave them credit 
for abstaining from the seizure of private property with- 
out compensation. This self-denial might be accounted 
for from the fact that after the address of General Lee 
to the people, his army would, for the sake of consistency, 
be on its good beliavior. 

General Sumner placed his corps in commanding po- 
sitions on Bolivar Heights, and ordered Captain Pell 
and his men of the First Brigade of Sedgwick's Di- 
vision to occupy the Ferry, as a provost guard ; while a 
large detail, under the command of a captain, was made 
from the Philadelphia Brigade for the same duty on 
Camp Hill and Bolivar. 



HARPER'S FERRY. 123 

During the month the corps was lying here, the pro- 
vost guard had some very amusing experiences, involving 
a knowledge not only of military laws but of civil juris- 
prudence. 

The large mansion and surrounding buildings occupied 
formerly by the superintendent of the Government works, 
were used as headquarters and as a guard-house. It 
w^as the labor of days to put these structures and the 
grounds about them in a safe condition for occupancy. 
After the surrender of our unfortunate men composing 
this garrison at the time of Jackson's advance, there was 
a vast amount of war material destroyed. This work 
was purposely done in such a manner as to risk the 
lives of our troops when they returned. All about the 
grounds and in the buildings, shells and loose cartridges 
were placed, and even the wells were not spared. 

After the work of removing these destructive elements 
was supposed to have been thoroughly performed, one 
of the buildings that had been set aside for the purpose 
was used as a place of confinement for the prisoners. 
These were mostly stragglers from camp, or men who 
had obtained a supply from some illicit trader in bad 
whisky, and were suffering from its effects. The first 
evening that the guard-house was made use of, an unfor- 
tunate event occurred, that resulted in the serious injury 
of a number of the guard as well as the prisoners. In 
preparing the building the loose powder had been care- 
fully swept out after the ammunition had been removed, 
and the stone floor was thoroughly cleansed with water. 
At about ten p.m., as Sergeant Mervine, Seventy-Second 
Regiment, was putting a drunken soldier in the door, he 
attempted to take a lighted cigar from the man ; in the 



124 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

scuffle it fell on the ground, and immediately an explo- 
sion took place, caused by the ignition of particles of 
powder that had lodged in the crevices and cracks of the 
building. By this accident about ten persons were in- 
jured ; the sergeant and others suffering very painful 
wounds. 

After this affair it was determined to strike at the root 
of the evil, and, instead of being compelled to arrest 
gallant comrades who had been led into temptation, to 
secure the parties who were carrying on the unlawful 
business of supplying liquor to the troops. 

When our corps took possession of the town, all the 
stores and business places were vacant ; but soon after, 
traders and sutlers applied for permission to enter the 
lines and open their stores of articles for sale to the sol- 
diers. Licenses were freely granted, subject to certain 
rules ; one of these being a prohibition from selling in- 
toxicating liquors. The stores were rented by the pro- 
vost-marshal at such prices as he thought the occupants 
could afford to pay, and the money received was turned 
over to the suro;eons for the benefit of the sick and 
wounded. 

After the failure of several efforts to find the illicit 
traders, the men were set at work as detectives. The 
result of two or three nights of experimenting in the 
role of carousers divulged not only the names of the 
dealers, but the place of concealment for the "contra- 
band.'^ The discovery exhibited many ingenious devices 
to avoid capture and punishment. Some of the dealers 
had barrels constructed to draw either cider or whisky ; 
others used, as disguises, boxes of tobacco and other sub- 
stances not at all su^-o-estive of their real contents. In 



HARPER'S FERRY. 125 

some places the boards of the floor were removed, and 
"tlie stuif'^ hidden between the joists; and in others, 
concealed in jxirts of furniture. After reprisals and for- 
feiture had taken place, the offenders were cautioned and 
put under surveillance. In spite of all, however, some 
persons persisted in the business and met the conse- 
quences, — a seizure of all their wares, to be sold at auc- 
tion, and the owners put to work at the fortifications on 
Loudon Heights. 

These sales were conducted by the soldiers, and, as 
none of them were experienced in the business, the auc- 
tions were very amusing to all except the hapless owners. 
There were two or three old widow ladies living in the 
place, who were really loyal to the Union, and favorites 
with the men for various kind acts performed towards 
the sick. When the sales took place, they were notified, 
and the auctioneer took care to refuse no bid from them 
for the purchase of articles to supply their little shop, 
even though it might be a barrel of apples for fifty cents, 
or a box of cigars for a quarter. 

During the time the army was in this vicinity, Presi- 
dent Lincoln visited the troops. As he rode through 
Bolivar he looked careworn and anxious, and in his whole 
manner seemed to say, Why does INIcClellan allow the 
best month of the fall to pass, without availing himself 
of the weather and the good roads to look after the 
army of General Lee? 

The order for a movement was finally received, and 
its execution commenced on October 26th. The army had 
been increased to one hundred thousand etfectives, and 
its advance began to cross the Potomac at Berlin, Mary- 
land, and to move southward on the east side of the 



126 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

Blue Ridge. As soon as this movement commenced, the 
enemy in our front perceived it, and began to retire up 
the Shenandoah Valley, pursued for a short distance by 
Sedgwick's and Hancock's Divisions. 

On October 29th, the Second Corps joined in the ad- 
vance with the army, and, crossing the Shenandoah to 
the Loudon Valley, started on the fall campaign. 

As the brigade was moving from the Ferry, it was 
joined by a civilian, who, from this period until the final 
muster-out, became as fully identified with the command 
as any of its members. 

This gentleman, Mr. Joseph Warner Johnson, of 
Philadelphia, was a member of the Society of Friends; 
a man of light and ^veak frame but indomitable Avill. 

Being consistent in all things, his principles would not 
allow him to become a combatant; but seeing a wide 
field open, his humanity and patriotism induced him to 
seek for active service with the army as a humanitarian 
in the widest sense. Abandoning all the comforts of a 
luxurious and happy home, he joined the army, and "did 
what he could" to cheer and relieve the wounded and 
distressed, without thought of risk to himself or of com- 
pensation, save the inward satisfaction of benefiting the 
cause, and those who were imperiling, with himself, their 
lives to sustain the right. 

He was continually in correspondence, answering the 
inquiries of relations or friends concerning the wounded 
or dead soldiers, and would spare no trouble or inconve- 
nience to give the information required. After pay-day 
he was in the habit of sending home to his business part- 
ners large sums, to be paid to the families of the men 
of the Philadelphia troops, and especially of the brigade; 



HARPER'S FERRY. 127 

and at one period, while the army was in a sorry and di- 
laj^idated condition, he procured from Philadelphia large 
quantities of shirts, shoes, and stockings, which were dis- 
tributed gratuitously among the troops. Among these 
shoes were smaller sizes, that were best adapted to the 
wants of the men, and which the Government had been 
unable, for months, to furnish in quantities to meet the 
demand. These supplies were so unostentatiously issued 
that it is probable scarcely any of the recipients ever 
knew that they were the free gift of patriotic and chari- 
table Friends. 

By a multitude of actions, of which these are indica- 
tions, the memory of J. Warner Johnson is embalmed 
in the hearts of the survivors of the Philadelphia Bri- 
gade. Even those among the men who did not know his 
name, so quietly was his work performed, will recognize 
in this sketch the pleasant and genial man seen so often 
on the march, riding with the brigade commander, or, 
during tlie conflict, assisting in the hospitals near the 
field of action. 



CHAPTER XII. 



FREDERICKSBURG. 



On November 3d the brigade had reached a point 
four miles below Snicker's Gap, and at this place Gen- 
eral W. W. Burns formally relinquished the command 
to General Joshua T. Owen, who had been promoted 
from the colonelcy of the Sixty-Ninth. General Burns 
left the brigade to assume command of a division in 
Burnside's Corps, and the separation was one of mutual 
regret. The commander understood the men, and they 
appreciated his value as an officer. 

On the afternoon of the 4th the division arrived in 
the vicinity of Ashby's Gap, and a large detail of the 
brigade was ordered to occupy the place as a flank and 
picket -guard. The officer in charge was directed to 
throw out skirmishers and advance with care, as the 
enemy were in the vicinity. While moving towards the 
hills, a soldier was seen approaching from the direction 
where the enemy were sup2)osed to be located. This man 
proved to belong to a New England regiment, and had 
been " skirmishing'' on his ow^n account far outside our 
lines, and was carrying on his shoulders a large turkey. 
Our field officer questioned him as to where he had been, 
and how he came in possession of the prize. Pointing 
to a farm-house in the distance, he replied, '^ I bought 
128 



FR EDERICKSB URG. 129 

it of those people." After taking his. name and the 
number of his regiment, he was aUowed to go on his 
way to camp. AVhen the picket-line Avas properly estab- 
lished, the officer stopped at the house for something to 
eat, and, while sitting on the porch, the owner produced 
the note with which the enterprising Yankee purchased 
the turkey. It was a new ten-dollar Confederate bill, 
bearing, like the genuine article, the words, " Ten years 
after a treaty of peace ;" but, unfortunately for the seller, 
it had been printed and issued by a publisher in Phila- 
delphia as an advertising dodge. The fanner in his 
ignorance had parted with his fowl and given seven dol- 
lars of real Confederate money in change for this piece 
of paper. It is needless to say that Yankee soldiers 
were unpopular in this vicinity ever after. 

On the 6th we marched through Rectortown, and, 
reaching Salem, encamped for the night. At this place 
the first snow-storm of the season made its appearance. 
The ground was covered to the depth of three inches, 
but the sun of the following day soon carried it off, 
leaving in its place slush and muddy fields. 

On November 7th, while encamped near Warrenton, 
General McClellan was relieved of his command, and 
General Burnside was appointed his successor. This 
event took the whole army by surprise, and seemed for 
the moment to cast a gloom over the troops. Officers 
and men had a passionate affiiction for their leader, and 
when the formal sej)aration occurred the scene rivaled 
some of those made historically famous in the time of 
Napoleon. The commands were formed on either side 
of the Warrenton road on November lOtli, and when 
^^ Little Mac," as the soldiers called him, rode in review, 



130 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

some of the regiments broke ranks, and the men impul- 
sively rushed forward and, seizing his horse, begged their 
old commander to stay. He said in reply to these im- 
passioned demonstrations, " I wish you to stand by 
General Burnside as you have stood by me, and all will 
be well. Good-by," and, as the favorite leader rode oif, 
the men gave him an enthusiastic farewell. 

After the appointment of General Burnside the army 
was consolidated into three grand divisions, under Gen-_ 
erals Sumner, Franklin, and Hooker. The Second and 
Ninth Corps formed the right grand division, and re- 
mained in the vicinity of Warrenton until the 15th. At 
this date the advance of the army was across the Bappa- 
hannock, and about fifteen miles south of Warrenton. 
The entire available force of General Burnside consisted 
of one hundred and twenty thousand men ; and that of 
General Lee of about sixty thousand, at Culpeper and 
Gordonsville, and thirty thousand under Jackson, occu- 
pying the roads north of Winchester, towards Hancock. 
Jackson's position was probably intended as a feint 
towards crossing the Potomac ; but if so, it failed to 
effect its design. 

On the 15th the Army of the Potomac began to move 
towards Fredericksburg. The advance, led by General 
Sumner's Corps, was in three columns : Howard's, 
French's, and Hancock's Divisions. After marching a 
distance of thirty-five miles, the Second Division, now 
under General Howard, arrived near Falmouth on the 
17th of November. 

This village is on the north bank of the Bappahan- 
nock, and opposite the city of Fredericksburg. The 
distance from the latter place to Bichmond is sixty-five 



FREDERICKSBURG. 131 

miles, and the connection is by a double-track road 
almost to Hanover Junction. The communication be- 
tween Washington and this point is by the Potomac 
Kiver to Aquia Creek, then by a short line of railroad 
to the Rappahannock. This river is admirably fitted 
for a line of defense agjainst a movement towards Rich- 
mond. Above Falmouth it runs mostly between high 
hills or table-lands, difficult of ascent; while its fords 
are few and narrow. Below the village the ground along 
the river has more favorable crossing-places and positions 
for the formation of troops. At Fredericksburg, the 
north bank commands the town and the greater part of 
the space between the river-banks, as well as a series of 
heights that lie parallel with the stream from one to 
two miles back. 

Upon Sumner's arrival opposite Fredericksburg, he 
w^as met with the fire of a field-battery located in the 
rear of the town, giving evidence that General Lee 
already anticipated the plan of Burnside's campaign. 
The guns of the enemy were silenced in about fifteen 
minutes by Pettit's Battery, located on one of the hills 
near Falmouth. General Sumner was anxious to cross 
at once and, after occu[)ying the town, seize these for- 
midable heights ; but General Burnside would not assent 
to the proposal, preferring to wait until the railroad to 
Aquia Creek was established, and communications were 
perfected with Washington. 

On the 21st, our grand division and portions of the 
others having arrived at Falmouth, General Sumner 
demanded of the Mayor and Common Council of Fi-ed- 
ericksburg the surrender of the pla(;e. They re])lied 
that they had no control over the city, and that they 



132 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BhIJADE. 

were assured by the military authorities of the Confed- 
erate army that they would not occupy the town them- 
selves, or permit the National troops to do so. Evi- 
dently anticipating an immediate attack in response to 
this refusal, the town was filled with Mississippi sharp- 
shooters. 

The army of Burnside now began to concentrate 
about Falmouth, while it was apparent that General 
Lee at the same time was massing his forces on the 
heights back of Fredericksburg. Preparations were 
pushed by our troops to force the passage of the river, 
and the crossing-place selected was at Falmouth. As 
the hills of the north were favorable to the artillery 
covering the landing, while on the south the ground 
immediately about the place of debouching was screened 
from the batteries of the enemy, there was no obstacle 
anticipated to the building of bridges, except the sharp- 
shooters already occupying the town. 

On the 10th of December everything seemed prepared 
for the movement. The long-delayed pontons had 
arrived, and were ready to be run from their place of 
concealment down to the river. There Avere to be three 
bridges opposite the town, and two a short distance 
below, where Franklin was to cross. Sumner's and 
Hooker's grand divisions, composed of sixty thousand 
men, were lying near Falmouth and about one mile 
from the river, while Franklin's Division of forty thou- 
sand was stationed two miles below. 

At daylight of the 11th our division was moved 
nearer to the river, and formed just back of the Stafford 
Hills. At the same time the engineers were trying to 
lay the bridges. The work had been prosecuted very 



FREDERICKSB URG. 1 33 

quietly from an early hour in the morning, and after 
daylight it had the advantage of concealment through a 
heavy fog. The bridges had advanced far towards com- 
pletion before they were discovered by the enemy, when 
the sharp-shooters, from their places of shelter, opened 
a severe fire. After several attempts to finish the work, 
it was temporarily abandoned, the fire being too deadly. 

Nothing could be done until the riflemen were driven 
away, and only artillery could effectually destroy their 
covers and accomplish their expulsion. During the 
night twenty field batteries had been placed in position 
on the heights, and now, by command of General Burn- 
side, these guns opened, concentrating their fire on the 
houses occupied by the Confederate marksmen. This 
terrific cannonade was continued for some hours, then 
slackened, but the enemy were still in their hiding- 
places ready to defeat all attempts to complete the 
bridges. 

During this bombardment the division was massed 
immediately to the rear of the batteries, being entirely 
hidden from view and protected from the fire of the 
enemy. The morning had passed, and yet no orders had 
been received for the infantry to move ; the whole opera- 
tions, so far as we could see, being confined to the artil- 
lery on the river-banks. Towards four o'clock, this state 
of things still continuing, the men seemed disposed to 
gratify their curiosity in spite of the strict order to re- 
main perfectly concealed, and a few straggled towards 
the front. Colonel Baxter of the Seventy-Second rode 
u]) to the crest to send those belonging to his command 
back to their regiment. While engaged on this duty he 

met (jcneral Howard in conversation with a small group 

12* 



134 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

of officers. The general said, in effect, — ^' Baxter, the 
bridge is finished with the exception of two boats, and 
these it seems impossible to lay, operations being stopped 
by the fire of the enemy's sharp-shooters." He further 
remarked, '' There is a proposition to send a detachment 
of troops across the river in boats and force a landing, 
and I have no doubt the plan will succeed." Baxter 
replied, " If you say so, I will furnish the men for the 
work from my regiment ;" and after comparing his time 
with General Howard's, added, " I will wait in this place 
ten minutes for the order." General Howard started at 
once to see Burnside. In the mean time Baxter rode 
rapidly to the river and a short distance along its bank 
to ascertain the best point for embarking, and returned 
to the place of meeting to await the arrival of General 
Howard. Here he remained for a considerable period 
over the allotted time without receiving any message, 
Avhen the Seventh Michigan Regiment, under Colonel 
Henry Baxter, made its appearance. The colonel rode 
up to the regiment, and addressing its commander, a 
gallant officer with whom he was well acquainted, said, 
" Harry, where are you going with your command ?" 
" Across the river in the boats," was the reply ; " I have 
just received word through an aid for ^ Colonel Baxter to 
take his regiment over.' " '^ It is a mistake," said the 
commander of the Seventy-Second ; " that was to have 
been the work of my regiment." By this time the right 
of the Seventh Michigan had neared the river, and as 
Colonel Harry Baxter turned to lead the crossing, he 
called out, " I can't help it, colonel ; I have the order." 
In the official report of General Couch, commanding 
the Second Corps, as well as in the published records of 



FREDERICKSB URO. 1 3 5 

the operations of this day, it is stated that the "Seventh 
Michigan Regiment volnnteered to eilect a crossing." 
Far be it from the writer of this journal to pluck one 
leaf from the laurel crown of their standard. During; 
a service with them of several campaigns, he had abun- 
dant evidence of their extraordinary gallantry ; and he 
will never forget that men of this command, after the 
charge at Cold Harbor, under a heavy fire, risked their 
lives to carry him to the rear of the line when severely 
wounded. The authority for Colonel D. W. C. Bax- 
ter's statement, however, is indisputable, and while the 
Michiganders made the crossing, and did it bravely, 
there is good reason to believe that they did not volun- 
teer to cross the Kappahannock. 

After a landing had been effected, the Seventh Michi- 
gan rushed u]) the banks, drove the sharp-shooters from 
their shelter, captured a number of them, and took pos- 
session of that portion of the river front in the immediate 
vicinity of the intended landing for the bridge. The 
pontons were now speedily completed and the troops 
ordered to cross. 

The Philadel})hia troops were among the first to pass 
over, and General Owen, who was at the head of the 
column, ordered a detachment from the Fire Zouaves to 
deploy as skirmishers, and drive the Confederates from 
that portion of the town which they still occupied. 

It was now about dusk, and the enemy had the ad- 
vantage of being familiar with the localities ; but nothing 
daunted, the " Fire boys'' went at it in earnest, rather 
liking the change from fighting in the woods to an 
encounter in the streets of a city. After considerable 
skirmishing, in which some of our men were wounded 



136 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

and the enemy had been driven two or three squares 
from the wharf, his forces made a determined stand. 
Seeing this, our skirmishers were increased by detach- 
ments from other regiments of the brigade, and while a 
portion of them were engaged in exchanging shots, 
another body by passing through buildings and side 
streets made a charge, capturing a number of prisoners 
and driving the rest of the Confederates towards their 
main force in the rear of the town. The skirmishers 
were now rapidly advanced, and by ten o'clock they 
held possession of the built-up portion of Fredericks- 
burg. During all this time the corps of Sumner was 
crossing the river and massing in the city. 

The landing of our troops Avas effected so suddenly 
after the charge of the Michigan men that the citizens 
who remained in the town were not aware that we had 
entered. The officer in charge of the skirmishers saAV a 
light in a dwelling after the firing had ceased, just beyond 
his advance. After directing the picket to keep watch 
on the house, he knocked at the door and was answered 
by a middle-aged lady who, seeing that he was an officer, 
invited him to walk in, saying, " I am glad to see you.'' 
On entering a nicely-furnished sitting-room he found 
another lady somewhat younger than the first, evidently 
occupied in preparing supper, who said, " We are pleased 
to see you, and we were afraid from the noise we heard 
to-day, that you were going to let the Yankees come 
over." The officer w^ore an overcoat that had been blue, 
but from the smoke of camp-fires and the adhering soil 
of Virginia, its present shade was so doubtful that these 
ladies, totally unconscious of our advance, took their 
visitor to be a Confederate. To the remark, " You 



FREDERICKSBURG. 137 

needn't be afraid of the Yankees," one of tliem replied, 
^' We thought it strange if you all, with the eighty tliou- 
sand men you say you have, would let 'em over.'' The 
conversation then turned to the people of the city and 
other gossip, and it required some management to prevent 
the suspicions of the hostess from being excited. In the 
mean time the supper was fast being prepared. Just 
before its completion the officer said, " Where have you 
been during the day ?" ^^ In the cellar of this house to 
escape the shelling," was the reply. Pulling out his 
pocket-book and unrolling some greenbacks, he said, 
" Suppose I tell you I am a Yankee." The ladies looked 
at the notes for a moment, then at the officer, when the 
youngest exclaimed, " Law me! hit me again, Mr. Gor- 
don;" adding, "We are glad to see you anyhow, and you 
must take supper." The officer acce])ted the invitation 
to the hurried repast, and requested that they might 
express their great joy to the next Yankee, and not to 
him. 

There was quite a number of the inhabitants who re- 
mained in the town, the greater part of whom sheltered 
themselves in the cellars and vaults of buildings. Al- 
though some few made narrow escapes, it is not probable 
that there was any loss of life ; the fire of our batteries 
being principally concentrated about the river front for 
the purpose of dislodging the sharp-shooters. 

At midnight, when our brigade was relieved from the 
picket-line by another command, the town was filled 
with troops and exhibited all the destruction to private 
property customary to a place taken by storm. On some 
streets, houses had been carelessly set on fire and the men 
were trying to extinguish the flames. By the light of 



138 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

the conflagration groups of soldiers were examining 
books, pictures, wearing apparel and hundreds of other 
things that had been taken from the deserted dwellings. 
In some instances men would enter a building, pick up 
an article that pleased their fancy, and after carrying it 
a few squares make an exchange for another piece of 
property. 

One old lady, a resident of the place, seemed disposed 
to profit by these transactions, and accordingly opened a 
little store, offering ^^batter-cakes" and ^^ slap-jacks'^ in 
trade for any article of personal property. There was 
at all times a lively throng of soldiers about her doors 
waiting turns to make an exchange, and the assortment 
of articles they carried comprised every variety of house- 
hold goods, ^yhat the old w^oman did with her illicit 
gains, or how the people of the city straightened their 
accounts with her after we left, it would puzzle an in- 
vestigating committee to ascertain. 

These ^^ irregularities" were confined almost exclu- 
sively to houses that had been abandoned, but neverthe- 
less they were a portion of the calamities usually classified 
as " horrors of war," that we trust may never again be 
experienced by any American city. So far as our observa- 
tions went in this place, the citizens were not maltreated 
or insulted ; and while the exigencies of the service do 
not always permit the detailing of guards over property 
abandoned by the enemy, the fact that private dwellings 
may be despoiled under any circumstances without form 
of laAV is demoralizing. 

The next day was employed in crossing the remainder 
of the army. One corps of Hooker's grand division 
passed over with Sumner at the town, while the other 



FREDERICKSBURG. joq 

joined Franklin at liis landing on the plain below Fred- 
ericksburi>:. 

The enemy made but little effort to interfere with the 
advance, contenting themselves with dropping an occa- 
sional shell in the ranks of the reo-iments descendin<r to 
the bridges. Sometimes these shots were very destruct- 
ive. One battalion that appeared to be new in the ser- 
vice, from its numbers and the condition of the uniforms, 
Avas marching over the fatal spot, preceded by a band 
])laying "Bully for You," when a shell burst in their 
ranks. Looking back from the south side of the river, 
we saw the men scatter, and when the smoke cleared 
away, some of the poor fellows were lying in the agonies 
of death. 

During the night our troops rested on their arms un- 
conscious of the orders for the future, but feeling certain 
that the morrow would bring desperate work. 

The battle of Fredericksburg was begun on Decem- 
ber 13th, by General Franklin on the left, who, at iQw 
A.M., advanced INIeade's Division, supported by Gibbon 
on its right, with Doubleday in reserve. Meade pushed 
forward with great vigor, capturing two hundred pris- 
oners and several standards, and reached the new mili- 
tary road that Lee had constructed to secure communi- 
cation between the wings of his army. At this point 
he was met by overwhelming numbers and forced back, 
losing very heavily. Gibbon now rushed forward to 
support the retreating regiments of Meade, and he too 
was repulsed. General Franklin then ordered Birney's 
Division to advance, and it arrived just at the time that 
Gil)bon's troops were in confusion, and, presenting a iirm 
line, checked" the advance of the enemy. The opera- 



140 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

tions described in these few words lasted about two hours, 
and were attended with severe loss to our troops without 
any beneficial result. 

At noon, just two hours after the commencement of 
Franklin's fight. General Sumner was ordered to assault 
the heights back of Fredericksburg. The directions 
were to make the attack with a single division supported 
by another. French's command was selected for the 
advance, supported by Hancock. The assault was to be 
by brigade front, and the deployment was made after 
moving out by the plank road and crossing the canal. 
The point to be assailed was Marye's Heights. At its 
base was a stone wall, and on the ridge or half-way up 
the side were other defenses ; all these were filled with 
riflemen. The approach to this position lay .over a broad 
plain which was swept by the converging fire from the 
numerous batteries of the enemy. 

The moment French began to move forward he was 
met with a furious fire of shot and shell, and as he 
pushed on and neared the hill he encountered heavy 
volleys of musketry at short range. For a moment the 
men stood, then staggered back, losing nearly half their 
number. Hancock, with the gallant Irish Brigade of 
Meagher, was immediately back of French, and they 
almost reached the stone wall, and after enduring this 
murderous fire for ten minutes were forced back, losing 
more than two thousand men out of five thousand en- 
gaged. General Hancock says in his report, '^ These were 
veteran regiments, led by able and tried commanders." 

And now came the turn of our division to enter these 
bloody scenes. As our brigade moved out on the tele- 
graph road by the flank, left in front, the Seventy-Second, 



FREDERICKSB URG. 141 

commandecl by Colonel Baxter, had the left and the One 
Hundred and Sixth, under Colonel T. G. Morehead, the 
right. The moment our command made its appearance, 
and before reaching the o^nal, we were exposed to a cross- 
fire of artillery ; men were struck down lacerated by the 
bursting shells, while the posts and fences along the road 
were torn to pieces and the fragments sent flying in the 
air. Without hesitating the brigade followed its gallant 
leader, General Owen, and, crossing the bridge, formed 
front in line of battle on the open field. The advance 
continued until the ground was reached where the dead 
and wounded of French and Hancock were lying ; here 
\\e were ordered to lie down and be prepared to hold 
tlie })lace. 

This position was on the field immediately in front 
of Marye's house, and within one hundred and fifty 
yards of the Confederate line. The brigade was in the 
following order, beginning at the left: Seventy-Second, 
One Hundred and Sixth, and Sixty-Ninth, — the right 
of the last regiment resting on the turnpike road. The 
Seventy-First at this time was holding an important 
position on the right of the town. 

On this open space, exposed to a continual fire, tar- 
gets for riflemen or artillery, without any chance for 
shelter or even permission to return the fire, the Phila- 
del})hia Brigade was posted the entire afternoon of the 
battle. The large mansion on the hill in front was filled 
with sharp-shooters, who rested their pieces on the win- 
dow-sills, and, after taking deliberate aim, fired at our 
line. In some iustances officers of the brigade, who 
were easily recognized as such by their uniform, had the 
melancholy satisfaction of observing the effect of ro])eated 

13 



142 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

shots made at their persons. A captain of a company 
on the left, while reclining on his side, noticed a sharp- 
shooter taking more careful aim than usual, and the in- 
stant the shot was fired threw up his arm to protect his 
face, and received a wound on his hand. 

During these hours, which seemed to be unusually 
long, the excitement was increased by the charges of 
troops made at different times in the afternoon. These 
were supported by the artillery of the corps, which liad 
been sent forward by General Sumner, and located a 
short distance to our rear, upon an elevation from which 
it could fire over the brigade. Occasionally a shell would 
burst short, or the fragments of a sabot would strike 
among us, and for the moment recall our attention from 
the front. 

The first two charges that were made after our arrival 
reached a point within fifty yards of the stone wall, 
where they halted for a moment, fired a few shots, and 
with heavy loss rushed back through our line, carrying 
a few of our men with them. Towards evening. Burn- 
side seemed determined to try to do with inexperienced 
troops what he had failed to accomplish with veterans ; 
and General Humphreys's Division of Hooker's Corps 
was sent forward with empty muskets and fixed bayonets. 

The first intimation of their advance was conveyed by 
loud shouts and cheers from the bank of the canal to 
our rear. Looking back, we saw the mass of men with 
flags unfurled rushing forward. They seemed full of 
spirit, and as the general led them on we thought this 
time the rifle-pits might be carried. General Hum- 
pin*eys was a gallant officer, and evidently meant work. 
When he reached our position and saw the line of men 



FREDERICKSBURG. I43 

lyiiiGT alonty with their dead and wounded comrades, he 

•.00 7 

supposed we were skulkers, and in commanding tones 
ordered our brigade to join his column. Being con- 
vinced of his error, in a moment he moved on, and we 
rose to our feet to see the result. 

Humphreys's Division did well in this storm of death, 
but no better than its predecessors. A few neared the 
stone wall, then hesitated, loaded their rifles and dis- 
charged a few wild shots, then started to run. As they 
passed our line in their retreat, the soldiers, remember- 
ing the unfounded charges of their commander, stopped 
many of his men, compelling them to reinforce our 
brigade. 

In this charge General Humphreys lost seventeen 
hundred men out of four thousand, and General Hooker 
in referring to it in his testimony before the Committee 
on the Conduct of the War, says, " Finding that I had 
lost as many men as my orders required me to loee, I 
suspended the attack." He might have added, these men 
were not substitutes nor men who had been drafted, but 
the best blood of a patriotic volunteer army. 

The sun refused to stand still on this worse than use- 
less waste of human life, and night threw a friendly 
mantle over the field of carnage. Then the ambulance 
corps commenced quietly to grope in the darkness to find 
those of the fallen who gave signs of life. Torches 
were impossible, as the moment they appeared the enemy 
fired at the bearer. The wounded lay everywhere al)out 
us, and to assist the stretcher-bearers in finding them 
quickly, these poor fellows were told by their comnwles 
to groan continually until they were found and carried 
off the field. 



144 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

At eleven o'clock that night the three regiments were 
relieved by Sykes's regulars. These troops noiselessly 
took our places. The commands were given in whispers, 
and the canteens and cups of the men were arranged to 
prevent their rattling. In this manner we quietly moved 
away from the front of Marye's Heights, and found rest 
for the night in the streets of the town. 

The Seventy-First Regiment, under Colonel Markoe, 
was relieved from its position and sent to the front at 
the same time with the regulars. Markoe w^as ordered 
to hold the ground used for tanning purposes on the 
right of the road. This place afforded no shelter, and 
was but a few yards from the enemy, rendering great 
care necessary to avoid drawing fire from the Confeder- 
ate line ensconced behind stone walls. During the night 
Colonel Baxter, acting as field officer, narrowly escaped 
capture while establishing his connections, and one of his 
sergeants was killed while advancing to his relief. 

On the morning of the 14th Colonel T. G. ^lorehead 
was ordered to act as field officer of the Second Division, 
and at daylight took his post in the front line, near the 
Seventy-First. As soon as the fog rose the enemy con- 
tinued the tactics of the preceding day, firing at every 
man that gave the least chance for a shot. The Califor- 
nia boys held their places, lying as quiet as their com- 
rades who were still in death about them. During the 
morning these dead bodies were repeatedly struck, the 
enemy supposing them to be videttes. Towards noon 
the Confederates opened with artillery, that made the 
tannery no longer tenable, and the regiment fell back to 
the shelter of the canal, losing several men in the effort. 

During the morning General Burnside made prepara- 



FREDERICKSB URQ. 145 

tion to i^iicw the attack. For this purpose he had his 
old corps — the Ninth — formed as a column of assault 
by regiments, intending to lead the advance in person. 
General Sumner, whose reputation as a soldier gave 
value to his opinion, expostulated so strongly that the 
troops were spared this additional slaughter. 

The rest of this day and the whole of the following, 
the army remained in the town, as if the leader was 
undecided what plan to adopt for future operations. 
Towards midnight of the loth we commenced to recross 
the Rappahannock, and by daylight the whole army was 
over except a few stragglers, and the pontons were re- 
moved from the river. 

For the failure of this attempt General Buruside was 
confessedly responsible ; the army fought well, and did 
not return to their old camp with mortification over a 
defeat, but rather with sorrow over the useless death of 
comrades. 

The Sixty-Xinth Regiment reported a loss of nineteen 
men killed, five officers and twenty-seven men wounded, 
and two taken prisoners. The officers wounded were 
Lieutenants Hugh Flood, John Ryan, Edward Thomp- 
son, W. F. McXamara, and W. M. Kelly. The casual- 
ties in the other regiments are not officially reported, but 
from the examination of records the average loss was 
about the same as that of the Sixty-Ninth. Of the 
officers of the Seventy-First, Lieutenant B. F. Hibbs 
was killed, and Lieutenant B. J. McMahon wounded. 
Among the wounded in the other regiments were the 
following : Captain A. C. Supplee and Lieutenant John 
C. Dobleman, Seventy-Second; and Captains Francis 
H. Acuff, Wm. Y. Farr, and \Vm. N. Jones, and Lieu- 



146 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

tenants John Steel, Sloauaker, Hassett, and May, One 
Hundred and Sixth. 

The total losses in the brigade, taking into considera- 
tion the perilous duty it had to perform, were astonish- 
ingly small, as will be seen from a com23arison of the 
annexed reports, taken from the brigade returns, now in 
the War Department: 







October 31st, 1862. 


December 31st, 18(32. 


Total 


Present. 


Total 


Present. 






Present 
and 




Present 
and 
















Absent. 


Officers. 


Men. 


Absent. 


Officers. 


Men. 


69tb P 


V. 


700 


18 


419 


594 


18 


390 


71st P. 


V. 


737 


15 


388 


649 


21 


367 


72d P. 


V. 


1106 


26 


623 


992 


21 


524 


106th P 


V. 


699 


30 


427 


639 


27 


358 




3242 


89 


1857 


2874 


87 


1639 



CHAPTER XIII. 

FALMOUTH. 

The period immediately succeeding the battle of Fred- 
ericksburg was one of gloom and discouragement to the 
troops. The moi'ole of the army seemed to be impaired 
as much by the absence of any appearance of definite 
plans for the future as by the failure just witnessed. 
Men who have passed through the vicissitudes of a few 
campaigns, and have experienced both success and defeat, 
are not likely to become so thoroughly demoralized as to 
prevent their speedy response to the call of duty ; but 
at this time in the history of the Army of the Potomac 
the reaction was more slow than usual. 

If it is essential to the attainment of good discipline 
that soldiers should be reduced to mere machines, that 
cannot criticise and will not speak, the American volun- 
teer will not attain that perfection. A march was never 
commenced, or- a campaign begun, that did not originate 
at the same time theories among the troops as to the 
object and probable success ; and the result of the opera- 
tions was always criticised by the men, with the aid of 
such intelligence as they possessed, or such information 
as they could obtain. 

This disposition did not interfere with the desire to 
perform their duty under any circumstances, or restrain 



148 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

that regard for fair play to their commanders so charac- 
teristic of the true soldier. In spite of the distrust 
attached to General Burnside as a leader, he won the 
admiration of the men for his personal character, his 
candid assumption of the entire responsibility for the 
last failure, and his acknowledgment that the fighting of 
the troops entitled them to better success. The rank 
and file were not alone in this feeling of distrust, how- 
ever, and it is a matter of history that a number of the 
general officers who issued and obeyed the orders of the 
general commanding did so only out of loyalty to the 
cause, and for the same reason refrained from expressing 
their disapproval of his plans. 

This want of confidence and feeling of discontent 
occasioned straggling and desertion to a greater extent 
than usual. The number of men reported as " missing 
in action,^^ or " absent without leave,'' was continually 
increasing ; while some of those wearing shoulder-straps 
were trying to get " honorable" discharges by means of 
surgeons' certificates for trifling wounds. 

According to the testimony before the Committee on 
the Conduct of the War, desertions were taking place at 
the rate of two hundred per day. It is true these strag- 
glers were not going over to the enemy, but the army 
was nevertheless weakened in its effective force by eighty 
thousand absentees, most of them from causes unknown. 

On the 1st of January, 1863, the President issued the 
Emancipation Proclamation, and there was a consider- 
able number of the troops that expressed opposition to 
it ; some of whom went so far as to say that they would 
not have entered the service if this action of the Govern- 
ment had been anticipated. This disaffection increased 



FALMOUTH. 149 

the clcinomlization, until its influence began to be ex- 
hibited to some extent in every corps. 

In spite of this condition of affairs, t\\Q great mass of 
the army seemed j^repared to enter the field again, and 
only awaited the order. It appeared to be the universal 
demand of the country that a movement of some kind 
should be made to overcome the influence of the Freder- 
icksburg disaster; and success was as much needed to 
inspire hope in the hearts of the people as to restore to 
the army confidence in the ability of its chief. General 
Burnside accordingly resolved to attempt once more the 
passage of the Rappahannock. 

At all the fords of the river in the vicinity of Fred- 
ericksburg the Confederates had stationed considerable 
bodies of troops as corps of observation, which rendered 
a surprise impossible. The difficulty was still further 
increased by the river being higher than usual, rendering 
the building of bridges for crossing a matter of neces- 
sity. Nothing daunted by these untoward circumstances. 
General Burnside issued the orders for preparations, and 
commenced a series of feints bv the movements of trains 
and the dispositions of troops. 

On the 19th of January the movement began, and 
was conducted with as much secrecy as i)ossible. The 
first demonstration was made below Fredericksburg, by 
a portion of the Second Corps and the Reserve Corps, 
under Sitrel. This movement was followed on the 20th 
by preparations for crossing at Banks^s Ford by the 
grand divisions of Hooker and Franklin, which liad 
been secretly moved to that vicinity the day before. 
The artillery positions were selected, and the jiontons 
were placed within a short distance of the river-bank. 



150 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

Daring the night of the 20th one of the wildest storms 
of the season arose, and the roads were covered with 
mud and water that seemed to have no bottom. In spite 
of this, the men struggled on through the rain and sticky 
soil to bring the boats to the river. Horses from the 
batteries in triple teams, aided by hundreds of strong 
arms tugging at the ropes, could scarce move the ponton 
carriages through the mire. The entire day was spent 
in trying to accomplish the preparation to build a single 
bridge. The next day brought another of like experi- 
ence in effort, with a still greater amount of rain and 
mud, until it was evident to both sides that the Army of 
the Potomac was stuck in the mud. The enemy, who 
by this time became aware of the character of the efforts 
to cross, shouted over, " Yanks, have you eaten all your 
rations yet ? We will come over and help build your 
bridges." 

It was now evident that the " mud campaign" was 
over, and the troops floundered back to camp, which 
they found by no means an easy task. Guns were sunk 
to their axles in the tenacious soil, requiring the united 
efforts of a regiment to extricate one at a time from its 
position. During this unfortunate movement our bri- 
gade was compelled, from its prominent position, in plain 
view of the Confederates, to remain in its camp, and we 
could only aid our comrades, as they struggled back to 
their old positions, by dividing our rations with them, 
or furnishing detachments to assist the artillery in haul- 
ing the guns. 

After this last effort of General Burnside, he was at 
his own request relieved from a position that had been 
thrust upon him, and the chief qualification for which 



FALMOUTH. 151 

consisted in his zeal and patriotism. On January 25th 
General Joseph Hooker was assigned to the command 
of the army. The same order relieved at his own request 
the brave old Sumner, who, shortly after this, while on 
his way to join the army on the frontier, was taken sick 
and died at Syracuse, New York. His loss was as deeply 
felt by the Philadel})hia Brigade as though he had been 
their only commander. 

With the appointment of General Hooker, or '^ Fight- 
ing Joe,^' as he was called, came the usual "General 
Orders No. 1,'' contiuning the assumption of command 
with allusion to past records and future purposes. The 
grand divisions were discontinued, and the army divided 
into seven corps; the Second being under command of 
General Couch. The artillery and the cavalry were also 
reorganized and rendered more efficient. Absentees were 
recalled to regiments, and measures were energetically 
pushed to restore the morale of the troops, which were 
largely successful. AVitli one exception, all movements 
were postponed during the remainder of the winter. The 
exception was in the case of the Philadelphia Brigade. 
Whether it was intended to add to our experience, or to 
show the troops that we should not be ikvored by our 
non-participation in the mud march, the brigade was 
ordered at nine p.m., February 25th, to march in the 
direction of Hartwood Church to intercept a body of 
Confederate cavalry, who were raiding on the right Hank 
of the army. A short time before this, snow had i'allen 
to the dej)th of seven inches, but liad gradually turned 
to slush and water. The night we started was dismal 
and foiru'y, and a little after midnight rain commenced 
to fall, increasing in quantity until daylight, when it 



152 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

came clown in torrents. The roads were almost impass- 
able, and the men literally waded during the march. 
The expedition was one of the most severe the brigade 
had experienced, and the twelve miles marched in dark- 
ness through the pelting of this winter storm, although 
it failed to accomplish any other purpose, certainly- 
demonstrated the good-natured endurance of the Phila- 
delphia men. It is probable that the cavalry of the 
enemy recrossed the Rappahannock long before the 
brigade found the church, and a few hours after our 
arrival we were ordered back to our quarters ; an order 
which was more cheerfully obeyed than the one detailing 
us on our mission. 

During the period immediately succeeding the last 
operation, the condition of the ground and the stormy 
weather prevented all movements, or even the ordinary 
drills and reviews. But storm or sunshine are equally 
favorable to '^chin'^ or "cook-house news,'^ and the 
questions passed from one to another, " What next ?'^ 
"What will General Hooker attempt?" Even the 
newspaper correspondents, whose productions were a 
never-failing source of information, seemed at a loss for 
a theory. 

There was a number of these gentlemen who ac- 
companied the army, and the enterprise they displayed 
in the pursuit of knowledge was truly astonishing. As 
our brigade was entering the fight at Fredericksburg, 
one of Frank Leslie's men was met rushing to the rear 
with his portfolio, no doubt containing hasty sketches of 
Marye's Heights as seen at no great distance. Another 
correspondent of an illustrated paper, who was determined 
to get an item worth reporting, tried to move the army. 



FALMOUTH. I53 

and, to assist in his laudable purpose, issued a cartoon 
entitled " Why don't the army move ?" It represented 
a soldier stuck in the mud, with an organ strap])ed on 
his back marked ^^ The Washington Chronicle," and on 
this instrument Secretary Stanton was standing on one 
foot, supporting on his shoulde rs President Lincoln. This 
correspondent did actually accomplish a movement, but 
he was the sole participant ; being ordered by General 
Hooker to transfer his labors to the rear of our lines. 

There was with the brigade for a few months the cor- 
respondent of a Philadelphia paper, whose enterprise 
was fully equal to that of any of his brethren. This 
gentleman was exceedingly aifable in his mannei'^ and 
careful in his examination of events, but by some mistake 
he was made a party to a difticulty in another brigade. 
Without any thorough inquiry into the merits of the 
case, he was arrested and sent as a prisoner under the 
charge of the provost guard to the prison-ship at Aquia 
Creek. His confinement lasted, of course, only a few 
days, but before he was exonerated and released he had 
secured information enough for several letters. When 
his paper arrived we found that it entirely ignorcil his 
troubles, but contained a letter dated at our camp which 
began with the incidental statement that the writer had 
availed himself of this opportunity, having occasion to 
visit the prison at Aquia, to lay before the public a 
description of the place. The journal containing this 
amusing letter probably had not so much confidencxi in 
other sources of information as our brigade correspondent 
supplied, as it kept over the column contidning other 
war news in large type the heading, " Important, if 
true." 



154 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

During this period of enforced quiet, the favorable 
days were used for drills and inspections, and the array 
fast regained its old discipline and energy. Hooker, in 
his enthusiastic humor, styled it " the finest army that 
ever trod this planet.'^ At the time of the new organi- 
zation under the last order, each corps was required to 
assume a distinct badge or insignia : the First wore a 
disk ; the Second, a trefoil ; the Third, a diamond ; the 
Fifth, a Maltese cross ; the Sixth, a plain cross ; the 
Eleventh, a crescent : and the Twelfth, a star. The 
First Division of each corps had its badge of a red color ; 
the Second, white ; and the Third, blue. The flags of 
the corps and divisions were square, while those of the 
brigades were triangular in shape. By this arrangement 
it could be known at once if a soldier was straggling 
from his command by the mark on his cap, while it 
added i\\Q high incentive of personal pride in the honor 
of the coi'ps wherever the decoration was worn. 

These days in camp, waiting for the movement, were 
passed when other duties did not interfere in some very 
amusing ways. The men who had an enterprising spirit 
practiced the laws of trade, and gained experience and a 
little spending-nioney by barter. This was especially 
the case with some of the Eastern regiments. With true 
Yankee shrewdness they ascertained the little wants of 
the men, and set about catering to them. At first they 
commenced making candles, with wick obtained in Wash- 
ington and tallow from the commissary. The limited 
supply furnished by the Government did not last long 
during the tedious winter nights, so that these camp- 
made articles were in considerable demand. Shortly 
after this first venture, the baking of cakes and pies w^as 



FALMOUTH. X65 

successfully attempted, until the camps were well sup- 
plied with these luxuries. Upon one occasion the trade 
met a ludicrous set-back by the reply of one of Baxter's 
men to the inquiry of a Maine soldier, '^ AVill you buy a 
pie?'' " Xo, sir; I just bought one of your colonel." 
This joke reached the ears of General Howard, who was 
from the same State, and the business fell into disrepute. 

The officers had their amusements as well as the men, 
and General Meagher of the Irish Brigade arranged a 
celebration of St. Patrick's day that was suited to all 
tastes. The general, dressed as a master of hounds, 
instituted hurdle-races, pole-climbing matches, and a 
variety of field sports, closing the performances with a 
complimentary dinner to the Second Corps officers. 
Unfortunately for some of* us who were present, the 
general did not succeed in accommodating all his guests. 
He extricated himself from the difficulty, however, as 
gallantly as he went into the charge at Marye's Heights, 
by saying, '^ Gentlemen, if you do not all succeed in 
finding seats at the table, please remember that Thomas 
Francis Meagher's hospitality is not as large as his 
heart." 

When the opportunity presented in camp, there was 
a creditable effort to impart religious instruction on the 
part of the chaplains. The Sixty-Ninth Regiment had 
the services of Father Martin, a Catholic priest who was 
respected by the men during his short term of service. 
The Seventy-First was served by Rev. Robert Keller, 
while the Seventy-Second had for its chaplain Rev. 
Gamaliel Collins; and whatever difference there might 
be in the religious doctrines of these gentlemen, there 
was no question about their ability to act as '^ fighting 



156 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

parsons/' when the occasion demanded. Both Mr. 
Keller and Mr. Collins acted as efficient aids on the 
field whenever they had the opportunity. The One 
Hundred and Sixth was well served by Chaplain Wil- 
liam C. Harris, a most estimable gentleman, who re- 
mained with the regiment over one year. 

The reorganization of the cavalry gave evidence early 
in the spring that it had promoted the efficiency of that 
branch of the service, and already there was considerable 
enterprise displayed in reconnoissances and passages at 
arms across the Rappahannock and in the vicinity of the 
fords. By the end of April the entire army seemed 
tired of looking at the enemy across the river, and felt 
willing to change the scene and prove once more its 
devotion to the just cause for which it had been so long 
struggling. When General Hooker gave the prelimin- 
ary order for the movement, or the " slant at Lee," as 
he called it, the troops were ready. 



CHAPTER XIY. 

CHAXCELLORSVILLE. 

There are positions in military as well as in civil 
life where men have to " learn to labor and to wait/^ — 
where there is an abnndance of hard work and no ap- 
parent reward. These experiences were realized by the 
brigade on the field in front of Marye's Heights, in the 
midnight march to Hartwood, and now again in the first 
and only campaign, as army commander, of General 
Hooker. Soldiers used to define glory to be, "getting 
shot and having your name spelled wrong in the news- 
papers." In the battle of Chancellorsville the part, 
however important, that was assigned the Philadelphia 
Brigade did not give an opportunity to gather glory of 
any kind ; but instead it offered at one period of the 
movement a full share of the risk and toil, with no pos- 
sibility of gaining distinction by the service. 

During the latter part of April every appearance 
seemed to indicate an early movement of the entire army. 
Already the cavalry, ten thousand strong, had started on 
an expedition to cut oif the communications of General 
Lee with Pichmond, and the infantry corps were pre- 
pared to follow the movement. In fact, this state of 
preparation had contiimed since the middle of April. 
All surplus clothing had been packed and sent to the 

14* lo7 



158 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

rear, except one shirt, one pair of drawers, and one pair 
of socks for each soldier. In the knapsacks along with 
these articles were stored five days' rations of coffee, 
sugar, crackers, and salt, and three days' supply of the 
same articles with salt pork were kept continually re- 
placed in the haversacks ; with these supplies five days' 
rations of beef on the hoof were kept in readiness. 
The tents that had gradually accumulated during the 
winter were turned over to the quartermaster, and the 
whole army was ready for quick movements. 

The plan of Hooker's campaign was a bold one and 
worthy of a military genius. It consisted of a prin- 
cipal movement in strong force against the left of Lee's 
army, to be accomplished by a rapid march up the Rap- 
pahannock to Kelly's Ford, twenty-seven miles above 
Fredericksburg, thence moving down the south bank of 
the river, uncovering United States Ford, and menacing 
the rear of the Confederate line. 

The crossing at Kelly's Ford was effected by the 
Fifth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Corps, by means of a 
ponton bridge, during the night of the 28th and morn- 
ing of the 29th, and the line of march was taken up for 
Chancellorsville. To reach it the Rapidan had to be 
crossed. Hooker's right column struck the river at 
Germania Ford, while his left moved to Ely's Crossing. 
Both divisions forded it about the same time, encounter- 
ing little opposition from the enemy, but compelled to 
wade through water in some places four feet deep. The 
men were in good spirits, and many of them plunged in 
after removing their clothing, which they carried on 
their bavonets along: with their cartrido:e-boxes and 
haversacks. 



CHA NCELL ORS VILLE. j 59 

While this movement was going on, the Second Corps, 
excepting Gibbon's Division, Avas ordered to United 
States Ford. At the same time the First, Third, and 
Sixth Corps, under General Sedgwick, were ordered to 
cross the river in the vicinity of Fredericksburg, and 
make a demonstration as if a real attack was intended. 
As soon as it was known by Sedgwick that Hooker's 
main force was near Chancellorsville, he received orders 
to detail Sickles's Third Corps and Reynolds's First 
Corps to join the main body. This left Sedgwick 
with his own corps, the Sixth, and our division of the 
Second Corps, commanded by General Gibbon. As 
soon as this movement began, one of the bridges was 
removed from its position below Fredericksburg and 
placed under the immediate charge of General J3enham, 
who was ordered to move it to Banks's Ford, which 
was about half-way between Fredericl^sburg and United 
States Ford. 

Our brigade, under the command of General Joshua 
T. Owen, was ordered to assist the movement and to 
cover the work of laying the bridges. The command 
was paraded at dark, and after stacking arms the men 
w^ere detailed to move with the train and help in passing 
it over the hills and rough places until its destination 
was reached. This duty was performed by daylight of 
May 1st, when the men returned to the old camp for 
their arms and accoutrements. At eleven p.m. the com- 
mand again moved to the crossing, which was reached 
about two A.M., Saturday, May 2d. 

The Rappahannock, at Banks's Ford, makes a bend in 
the shape of a horseshoe. The tongue or neck of land 
thus formed is quite narrow, in some places being less 



160 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

than a half-mile in width, rendering it easily enfiladed 
from the south bank of the river. 

The necessary pickets were at once thrown out and 
the river front entirely covered. At daylight Ave found 
a Confederate picket-line on the opposite bank prepared 
to dispute our passage and to give serious trouble in 
laying the bridges. During the entire second day of 
May our force did nothing but exchange a few shots 
across the narrow river and place in position some bat- 
teries to cover the work when it should be commenced. 
The artillery assigned to our movement consisted of sixty 
guns belonging to the reserve, under the personal com- 
mand of Brigadier-General Hunt. The presence of three 
general officers, Hunt, Benham, and Owen, representing 
three arms of the service, the brigade being the only in- 
fantry present, there was no immediate danger from lack 
of competent leaders if there was any opportunity for 
glory. 

Late in the evening of this day General Sedgwick 
with his corps, the Sixth, and the remainder of our 
division, under General Gibbon, received orders to 
move through Fredericksburg and proceed to join the 
main body of the army at Chancellorsville. The only 
obstacle to the execution of this little order was the fact 
that Lee had left the famous heights to the rear of the 
town to be defended by five brigades of infantry and 
three batteries of artillery. This force was nearly equal 
to that encountered at this place by our columns on 
December 13th. 

Sedgwick occupied Fredericksburg by moving up the 
river during the night, and before daylight on Sunday, 
May 3d, he attempted to surprise Maiye's Heights, but 



CHA NCELL ORS VI LL E. 161 

the assaulting party was quickly repulsed. The morning 
was now spent in preparations for a general attack, and 
it was not until about noon that the columns were ready. 
The moment the order was given to move forward, the 
line advanced on the left of the road on the double-quick 
without firing a shot. The resistance was very strong, 
and Sedgwick lost one thousand men in the attack, but 
his line uever faltered until the stone walls were cap- 
tured, and the storming parties rushed forward to the 
crest of the hill. At this point and on the ground about 
Marye^s house there was a severe struggle, but victory 
crowned the movement, and the whole ridge was soon in 
possession of the Sixth Corps and our comrades of the 
Second Division. In this operation the enemy lost, be- 
sides their killed and wounded, several hundred prisoners 
and five pieces of artillery. The Confederate retreat 
was made towards the south by the telegraph road, Avhile 
our troops took the plank road in the direction of Chan- 
cel lorsvi lie. 

At an early hour on Sunday, while Sedgwick was 
preparing his attack, our brigade had orders to com- 
mence clearing the front preparatory to laying the 
bridges. After some little skirmishing and sharp-shoot- 
ing, a detachment under Lieutenant Seabury, a gallant 
officer of the Seventy-First and an aid to General Owen, 
plunged into the river, which was forded with some 
difficulty, and, in spite of the enemy's pickets, landed, 
capturing a number of prisoners. 

The engineers now set to work energetically to finish 
their task, and were covered by our skirmishers on the 
south side, with the additional protection of the artillery 
on the north bank. The bridge was not completed 



162 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

until about three o'clock in the afternoon. The greater 
part of the time during this beautifnl Sunday we dis- 
tinctly heard the battle of Sedgwick with the troops 
occupying the heights near Fredericksburg, and also at 
intervals the dull sound of battle going on in the direc- 
tion of Chancellorsville. In the excitement necessarily 
present on the battle-field, courageous men forget danger, 
the real taking the place of the imaginary-; but there is 
something in the sound of distant battle, in the booming 
of cannon or in the roll of musketry, that sets the thouD;ht8 
vividly to work, especially when the listener knows that 
he may soon have to bear his part in the struggle. 

Immediately after the last plank was laid the bri- 
gade commenced crossing, and Colonel R. Penn Smith's 
Seventy-First Regiment was deployed as skirmishers, 
occupying the ridge about three-fourths of a mile from 
and parallel with the river. In the mean time a field 
telegraph had been constructed from our position, by 
way of the north bank, to United States Ford, and 
thence to General Hooker's headquarters, near Chancel- 
lorsville. One of the first messages sent over the wire 
was, " General Hooker, the bridges are laid at Banks's 
Ford." The reply to this information was of course 
not imparted to the troops, and being utterly at a loss 
to see how these bridges could help Sedgwick at Marye's 
Heights, or Hooker's force at Chancellorsville, with their 
usual ingenuity they circulated the report that the reply 
to Benham's dispatch was, ^^ The general commanding 
desires to know of what earthly use are the bridges you 
have built." 

General Benham, the chief of the pontoniers, was 
too old to be moved by mere camp rumors, and mount- 



CHANCEL L DBS VILLE. j (53 

iiig his horse he crossed the river, and after making ob- 
servations on the extreme front, he dispatched to General 
Hooker the message, — "General Sedgwick is driving 
tlie enemy due north at precisely six o'clock.'^ At the 
same time the adjutant of the brigade started in the 
direction of Sedgwick's firing to find that officer and 
personally notify him of the construction of the bridges 
and their location. The old commander was found after 
dark, three or four miles from the ford, bivouacking with 
his troops, lying on the grgund, looking anxious for the 
morrow and the further result of his unequal struggle. 

After advancing from Fredericksburg, the first serious 
opposition encountered by Sedgwick was on the heights 
near Salem Church ; here the enemy, reinforced by a 
brigade, under AVilcox, that had been disputing our 
landing, made a determined resistance, and the figlit 
continued, wdth varying success, until night ; and it was 
after this action that Sedgwick's forces were resting on 
their arms and awaiting the events of the coming day. 

During Monday, May 4th, there was considerable and 
heavy skirmishing in the early part of the day. In 
anticipation of an attempt to cut the column off from 
Banks's Ford, General Sedgwick made arrangements 
looking to his communications. The division of General 
Howe was faced to the rear, tlie left resting on the river, 
while the remainder of the line of battle connecting with 
it extended to the plank road, and from it turned to the 
right, extending along the road for the distance of a 
mile, where it again turned at right angles towards the 
river. At six in the evenini>: Howe was attacked bv the 
enemy, the charge being made l)y brigades in echelon. 
This fight was very severe, but resulted in a victory for 



164 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

Howe's troops after a very spirited counter-charge, in 
which they captured three battle-flags and a number of 
prisoners. This ended Sedgwick's fighting for the day. 

Some of the prisoners captured by our brigade stated 
that they had been marched to botii fronts, Hooker's, at 
Chancellorsville, and Sedgwick's, near Salem Heights, 
twice or three times within twenty-four hours. The 
operations of our forces appeared to have been conducted 
without any attempt at simultaneous effort, and in this 
way gave the enemy the full use of his entire force, 
while one of our columns was kept in idleness. 

General Howe's Division was ordered to the river as 
soon as darkness concealed the movement, while the 
other portion of Sedgwick's command occupied the 
heights near the ford. On Tuesday the 5th, at one a.m., 
General Sedgwick received orders from Hooker to 
" withdraw from his position, cross the river, take up 
the bridge, and cover the ford." 

The entire picket-line was now formed by the Phila- 
delphia Brigade, with orders to hold the heights until 
the last of Sedgwick's command had crossed the river 
then to withdraw as quietly as possible. A short time 
before daylight the Sixth Corps had completed the 
movement with their artillery and ammunition wagons, 
and were out of their trouble. 

Immediately in our front the Confederates were await- 
ing dawn to renew the attack, and it required care in 
relieving the line to conceal our movements and prevent 
any loss of men. The task was successfully accom- 
plished, and by daylight our brigade was on its way to 
its old quarters near Falmouth, where it arrived at nine 
A.M. The night of the 5th General Hooker recrossed at 



CHANCELLORSVILLE. 1G5 

United States Ford. Fighting Joe had his " slant" at 
Lee, and the moment success seemed to dawn, failure of 
result commenced. 

After our return to camp the brigade was formed for 
inspection. During our isolation from the rest of the 
corps there had been an accumulation of orders, which 
were now received and published for the information of 
the troops. Among these papers was a manifesto from 
Hooker, which, under the circumstances that surrounded 
us at the time it was officially read, made it a little inap- 
propriate : 

^^ Soldiers, — The events of the last three days prove 
that the enemy must either ingloriously flee, or come out 
from behind his defenses and give us battle on his own 
ground, where certain destruction awaits him.'^ 



15 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE MARCH AFTER LEE. 

The period immediately succeeding the Chaiicellors- 
ville campaign was one of temporary quiet. Both armies 
appeared to be counting the losses and considering the 
result of the conflicts. The army of Hooker lost seven- 
teen thousand one hundred and ninety-seven killed, 
wounded, and missing. In addition to this loss of men, 
the waste of material of war was enormous. The army 
of Lee suffered to the extent of ten thousand two hun- 
dred and eighty-one in casualties, and among its losses 
was one officer who wuld not be replaced : " Stonewall" 
Jackson, who fell by the fire of his own men. 

There w^as not the same demoralization in the army 
after Chancellorsville as that which followed Burnside's 
repulse. It is true, the rank and file felt they had failed ; 
but were puzzled to know how they had been defeated 
without fighting a decisive battle. It is safe to say that 
the reputation of the general commanding was severely 
affected by the result, and without the redeeming feature 
of Burnside in assuming personal responsibility for his 

failure. 

The total strength of the brigade after Chancellors- 
ville was two thousand and twenty-one ; and of this 
number there were present for duty sixteen hundred and 
106 



THE MARCH AFTER LEE. ]67 

ninety-six. There were no changes of importance in the 
cominanding officers of regiments, except in the Seventy- 
First. Ivieutenant-Colonel John IMarkoe having resigned 
on account of his wounds, ]\Iajor R. Penn Smith was 
promoted to colonel, Captain C. KocTiersperger to lieu- 
tenant-colonel, and Cai)tain Enoch E. Lewis to major. 
To fill the vacancy made by the promotion of Adjutant 
Charles S. Newlin to a captaincy, the Governor of Penn- 
svlvania had commissioned Lieutenant S. P. Hutchinson. 

In the Sixty-Ninth, under the command of Colonel 
Dennis O'Kane since the promotion of General Owen, 
Adjutant Martin Tschudy was made lieutenant-colonel, 
and James Duify was promoted from captain of Company 
A to major. Quartermaster James Gleason, of this regi- 
ment, a faithful and popular officer, was made captain 
and assistant quartermaster, and assigned to the brigade. 

In the regimental line officers there were a number of 
changes, and among these the following persons were 
honorably discharged upon surgeons' certificates of dis- 
ability from disease, or wounds received in action : 

Major John Devereux, Jr., 69th, March 26th, 1863. 

Captain James O'Reilly, 69th, April 27th. 

Captain Patrick :Moran, 69th, February 21st. 

Lieutenant Hugh Flood, 69th, March 27th. 

Lieutenant Andrew Lovett, 69th, April 9th. 

Lieutenant John King, 69th, March 14th. 

Lieutenant Samuel McKeown, 69th, INIarch 20th. 

Lieutenant Joseph j\I. Kelly, 69th, INIarch 4th. 

Lieutenant John F. Smith, 71st, March 6th. 

Captain Francis McBride, 72d, March 27th. 

Lieutenant Ik'njamin F. Sloanaker, 106th, June 4th. 

Captain Francis H. Acuff, 106th, April 16th. 



168 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

The Seventy-First lost a valuable officer in Captain 
E. Carlyle Norris, who died May 1st, 1863, of wounds 
received in action. In the Sixty-Ninth Regiment, Cap- 
tain Andrew McManus, a brave and spirited man, came 
to an untimely end on May 27th, in an altercation with 
a comrade. In tlie One Hundi^ed and Sixth, Captain 
Ralph W. P. Allen was discharged to accept promo- 
tion. 

The vacancies produced by these and other changes 
were filled by promotions, generally based upon merito- 
rious service. The annexed list gives the grade on 
entering the service, with the promotion about this date, 
of non-commissioned officers and privates : 

The Sixty-Ninth Regiment promoted — 

Sergeant-Major Thomas P. Norman, first lieutenant, 
July 1st. 

Private Michael Fay, second lieutenant. May 1st. 

Sergeant Charles McAnally, first lieutenant, May 1st. 

Private John J. Taggart, second lieutenant, June 5th. 

Sergeant-Major John Ryan, first lieutenant, May 1st. 

Sergeant Michael Duffy, captain. May 1st. 

Sergeant William Whildey, first lieutenant. May 1st. 

Sergeant John H. Johnson, second lieutenant. May 1st. 

The Seventy-First Regiment — 

Sergeant Joseph S. AVatt, second lieutenant, June 5th. 

Sergeant J. T. Smallwood, second lieutenant, June 5th. 

Sergeant-Major Jacob S. Devine, first lieutenant, 
March 1st. 

Sergeant Frederick Everts, second lieutenant, June 
6th. 

Sergeant John D. Rogers, first lieutenant, June 5th. 

Sergeant James Clark, second lieutenant, June 5th. 



THE MARCH AFTER LEE. igQ 

Sergeant Thomas J. Rusli, captain, June 5th. 

Sergeant R. W. Hemphill, second lieutenant, June 5th. 

The Seventy-Second Regiment — 

Sergeant James V. Schreiner, first lieutenant, Feb- 
ruary 27th. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant Henry Russell, second lieu- 
tenant, January 25th. 

Sergeant Robert Stewart, second lieutenant, INIay 1st. 

Private Frederick Roland, second lieutenant, ^lav 1st. 

Sergeant Alexander McCuen, second lieutenant, Jan- 
uary 1st. 

Sergeant Thomas J. Rorer, first lieutenant. May 1st. 

Sergeant Sutton Jones, second lieutenant, January 1st. 

Sergeant Abram Heulings, first lieutenant, August 
25th. 

Sergeant E. B. Whittaker, second lieutenant. May 1st. 

Sergeant John D. Lavis, second lieutenant, January 
1st. 

Sergeant Jacob Glenn, second lieutenant. May 1st, 

Sergeant-Major J. W. Sunderland, first lieutenant, 
January 1st. 

The One Hundred and Sixth Regiment — 

Sergeant Harry Neville, second lieutenant, IMay 1st. 

Sergeant Jacob M. ^Miller, first lieutenant, April 17th. 

Sergeant-Major William A. Hagy, second lieutenant, 
May 1st. 

Sergeant John F. Hassett, first lieutenant, February 
24th. 

Sergeant William B. Rose, second lieutenant, ^lay 1st. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant Samuel L. Hibbs, first lieu- 
tenant, ^larch 1st. 

Corporal H. B. Rutiicrford, second lieutenant. May 1st. 

15* 



170 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

The month of May was passed in the vicinity of the 
old camp, and the time was employed in drills and 
reviews. The brigade at the same time received some 
new recruits, who were placed under the instruction of 
non-commissioned officers of the regiment. 

Towards the latter part of the month it became evident 
that the Confederate army was preparing for some im- 
portant movement. Troops could be seen changing their 
locations, and new camps appeared on the south side of 
Fredericksburg. The pickets of the enemy became more 
bold and insolent, evidently exhibiting the feeling of 
confidence imparted to their entire army by the battles 
of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsvilk. 

General Hooker apparently understood that the enemy 
were preparing to move, but in which direction or for 
what purpose he failed to ascertain until Lee had his 
corps well under way. On June 6th, Sedgwick was 
ordered to recross the Rappahannock at Franklin's old 
crossing and make a reconnoissance. The information 
obtained by this movement was of no great value. The 
Sixth Corps reported the enemy in force on the heights ; 
but brought back no information about Lee. 

On June 9th, General Pleasonton was ordered to try 
a movement towards Culpeper, with two divisions of 
cavalry and two brigades of infantry. This force formed 
in two columns, crossed the river at Kelly's and Beverley 
Fords, and moved on converging roads towards Cul- 
peper. The enemy were met near Brandy Station, and a 
severe engagement occurred in which the entire cavalry 
of both armies took part. Our troops finally drew off 
and recrossed the Rappahannock, not without inflicting 
as heavy blo\ys as they had received ; but what was of 



THE MARCH AFTER LEE. 171 

much more importance, bringing intelligence through 
captured papers of the projected Confederate invasion of 
the North. This information, Avith other news from 
scouts, gave the startling intelligence that while the 
Army of the Potomac was lying at Falmouth, General 
Lee in an extended column was heading towards \Yin- 
chester. These confirmations of suspicions already en- 
tertained in Washington caused great excitement in that 
city, and General Hooker no doubt received from it 
more calls for information than he could answ^er, and 
orders than could be readily obeyed. Some of these 
directions from the President and General Halleck, when 
read in the light of history, are very interesting. On 
the 10th, Hooker telegraphed his theory of the Con- 
federate movements, and received a dispatch containing 
these expressions: "I think Lee's army, and not Rich- 
mond, is your true objective point." " Fight him, too, 
when opportunity offers. If he stays where he is, fret 
him and fret him." 

AMien on the 14th Hooker telegraphed the definite 
information of Lee's movement, the President again 
replied : " If the head of Lee's army is at Martinsburg 
and the tail of it on the plank road between Fredericks- 
burg and Chanccllorsville, the animal must be very slim 
somewhere ; could you not break him ? 

"A. Lincoln." 

The uncertainty dispelled. Hooker set about ener- 
getically moving towards Washington, and at the same 
time covering the line of the Orange and Alexandria 
Railroad. A portion of the army whose position could 
not be seen by Hill's Corps, which was still occui)ying 



172 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

Fredericksburg, moved on the 13tli to Bealton, and 
from it to Warrenton. 

On Sunday the 14th, our division was ordered to 
move at very short notice. Tents were not struck till 
after dark, although everything else to be carried in 
wagons was ready and packed. At about midnight the 
Second Division, the last of the army, moved from 
rahuouth, obstructing the roads behind the column. 
At noon, June 15th, the command reached Stafford 
Court-House, where it halted two hours ; then resuming 
the march, bivouacked at night five miles from Dum- 
fries. The day was very hot, the roads were filled with 
dust, and the march of twenty-eight miles was so op- 
pressive that a number of the men fell from sunstroke 
and exhaustion. 

At two A.M. on the 16th, the brigade started from 
Dumfries, where we halted a few hours. After taking 
up the march through Wolf Run Shoals, Occoquan 
Creek, we camped for the night on a fine farm belonging 
to an old bachelor named Steele, who was very anxious 
that we should raise money to pay for the damage to his 
crops. He did not succeed, his uninvited guests being 
ragged and penniless. On the 17th we reached Sangster's 
Station, Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Here the 
corps formed in line of battle, facing towards Bull Run. 

After manoeuvering and countermarching, the com- 
mand started on the 20th through Bull Run and Gaines- 
ville to Thoroughfare Gap, where we arrived at mid- 
night. The last part of this march was very severe, 
and in the darkness men frequently stumbled over rocks 
and into ditches. One man marching near the writer, 
who had no doubt heard the inquiry so frequently. 



THE MARCH AFTER LEE. 173 

"How far off is the Gap?" suddenly fell into a deep 
hole ; on being asked by his comrade " what he was 
doing," he naively replied, "I am stopping that gap." 

The Second Corps remained at this place guarding 
the pass until the morning of June 25th. Two miles 
below this point there Avas a less frequented road, but 
one easy of access, which was effectually blocked up for 
some time to come by a detachment from the brigade, 
who were furnished with axes with which trees were 
felled in large numbers and thrown across the road. 

After leaving Thoroughfare Gap, the division was 
assailed by a battery while marching through Hay 
Market. Before this was silenced a few of the command 
were killed and wounded. Passing through Cub Run, 
the colunui crossed the Potomac at Edward's Ferry at 
eleven o'clock on the night of June 2Gth. 

The next day the march was continued beyond 
Barnestown, Maryland ; and on the 28th, our corps 
arrived two miles from Frederick, where the brigade 
was ordered to establish a picket covering the right of 
the corps near the Monocacy. 

On the day of our arrival at this point General 
Hooker, at his own request, was relieved from connuand, 
and Major-General George G. Meade, commanding the 
Fifth Corps, was designated as commander-in-chief in 
his stead. There were other changes made of subordi- 
nate commanders at the same time. Among these was 
the assiirnment of Brij^adier-General Alexander S. Webb 
to command the Second Brigade as successor to Briga- 
dier-General Owen. 

General AV^ebb, although an ofllccr of note in the 
regular scryice, was unknown to the majority of the 



174 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

command ; but his force of character and personal 
gallantry soon won the regard of the regiments to as 
great an extent as that obtained by any of his prede- 
cessors. At the time General Webb reported for duty, 
the brigade was composed of — 





1 

Total Present , 
and Absent. 


Present. 


Oeacers. 


Men. 


General Stafl'. 

69th P. V. 

71st P. V. 

72d P. V. 
106th P. V. 
Brigade Band. 


4 

459 
538 
745 
477 
16 


4 

32 
27 
26 
30 


312 
366 
447 
313 
16 




2239 


119 


1454 



CHAPTER XVl. 



GETTYSBURG. 



The appointment of General Meade was so entirely 
unexpected that it took the whole army by surprise ; it 
was, nevertheless, received with universal satisfaction, 
and all who knew him expressed their determination to 
give him cordial co-operation. The following address, 
issued on his taking command, is a truthful illustration 
of the patriotic and modest character of a brave and 
skillful officer, whose deeds are known throughout the 
land, and whose memory will always be cherished in the 
hearts of his countrymen : 

"Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, 

"June 28th, 18G3. 

" By direction of the President of the United States, 
I hereby assume command of the Army of the Potomac. 
As a soldier, in obeying this order, — an order totally un- 
expected and unsolicited, — I have no promises or pledges 
to make. The country looks to this army to relieve it 
from the devastation and disgrace of a hostile invasion. 
Whatever fatigues and sacrifices we may be called u|)()n 
to undergo, let us have in view constantly the magnitude 
of the interests involved, and let each man deterininc to 

do his duty, leaving to an all-controlling Providtnce 

175 



176 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

the decision of the contest. It is with just diffidence 
that I relieve of the command of this army an eminent 
and accomplished soldier, whose name must ever appear 
conspicuous in the history of its achievements ; but I 
rely upon the hearty support of my companions in arms 
to assist me in the discharge of the duties of the im- 
portant trust which has been confided to me. 

^^ George G. Meade, 
" Major-General Commanding.^' 

At the time General Hooker was relieved of his com- 
mand there had been no indication of his plan of the 
campaign, and his successor was left entirely free to 
shape his own course. Richmond was no longer thought 
of, but, in the language of the President, " The army of 
Lee was the objective point." 

On June 28th, Longstreet's and Hill's Corps of the 
Confederate army were at Chambersburg, and Ewell was 
at York and Carlisle. General Lee was just ready to 
advance on Harrisburg, when he ascertained the location 
of the Union army, and at once changed his plan and 
began concentrating on the east side of the mountains. 
These movements were commenced on INIonday, June 
29th. On the same day General Meade put his columns 
in motion towards Unionville, Taneytown, and Gettys- 
burg. Thus, the hostile armies were approaching each 
other, fully realizing that a great battle was imminent, 
at the same time completely in the dark as to where the 
conflict would occur. 

In the operations of Meade the cavalry under Buford 
Avere in the advance, and they were thrown out well to 
the left flank. Moving in the same general direction 



GETTYSBURG. 177 

towards Emmettsburg were the First Corps, under Rey- 
nolds, and the Eleventh, under Howard. At tiie same 
time the Third and Twelfth were headed for Taney town, 
the Second and Fifth towards Frizzleburg, and the Sixth 
to Westminster. 

Gettysburg, the county town of Adams, towards which 
the armies were movhig, lies at the base of one of the 
ranges of South Mountain ; its location is central, a num- 
ber of converging roads making it easy of access from 
every direction. The Emmettsburg road, by which 
Reynolds was advancing, comes in on the southwest, 
the Taney town road enters on the south, while the road 
from Westminster, by which the Sixth Corps was ad- 
vancing, comes in on the southeast ; the roads by which 
the Confederates were moving from Chambersburg enter 
on the northwest, while EwelFs Corps, in its retreat from 
York and the vicinity of Harrisburg, approached by the 
York road on the northeast. 

The advance of the Second Corps was begun early on 
the morning of June 29th, and, with but few halts, it 
was continued throughout the day. After tramping 
through the stifling dust under a burning sun, in heavy 
marching order, Uniontown was reached, a distance of 
more than thirty-one miles, where the troops remained 
during the 30th. On July 1st the advance was again 
resumed until a point was reached four miles from Gettys- 
burg, where a lialt was made. 

While on the inarch we heard iha sounds of the battle 
which took place between our advance under Major- 
General John F. Reynolds and that of the ( 'oniedcrates, 
and an aid arrived with the sad news ol" the death of 

that gallant ollicer, after which General Hancock, the 

16 



178 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

corps commander, rode rapidly to the front to assume 
command, by direction of General Meade. Upon his 
arrival he found the First and Eleventh Corps consider- 
ably shattered and in confusion, falling back through the 
town towards Cemetery Hill. 

On the south of Gettysburg and immediately adjoin- 
ing the town there is a series of heights and hills, com- 
mencing with the Cemetery and extending toAvards the 
south, terminating in a knob of considerable elevation 
called Round Top. To the right of Cemetery Hill, as 
the spectator faces the north, is Gulp's Hill, and from 
it, bending around Cemetery Hill and following the 
ridge south to Round Top, is a distance of four miles, 
the locality forming a natural position for a line of battle 
in the shape of a fish-hook, the barb being Gulp's Hill 
and the shank ending in the rocky eminence of Round 
Top. 

Hancock quickly decided to keep possession of the 
key of this line, and, aided by Generals Howard, War- 
ren, and Buford, he made the preliminary dispositions. 
Cemetery Hill was held by Howard's troops, and these 
were joined on the right by Wadsworth's Division of 
the First Corps, who occupied Gulp's Hill. On the left 
of Howard, along Cemetery Ridge, were placed the re- 
maining two divisions of the First Corps, while the 
Twelfth, under Slocum, which arrived about evening, 
assisted in prolonging the line. General Slocum now 
assumed command, and Hancock rejoined the Second 
Corps, after reporting to Meade the strength of the 
position for a defensive battle. 

On July 2d, at early dawn, the corps was moved to 
the front, and placed in position along Cemetery Ridge, 



GETTYSBURG. I79 

connecting on its right with the left of Howard's Corps ; 
while the Third Corps, under Sickles, was ordered to 
connect on the left and extend to Round Top. 

The Philadelphia Brigade, before taking its place in 
line, Avas massed on the edge of a wood, near the Taney- 
town road, and a field return was made by the adjutant 
of each regiment. Out of the entire number present 
for duty when General Webb assumed command at 
Frederick, there were but thirteen men absent without 
leave; and some of these, who had given out on the 
march, rejoined their comrades before the action. The 
enthusiasm of the men was raised to the highest pitch 
by the address of Meade, containing the stirring senti- 
ments, "The enemy is now on our soil. The whole 
country looks anxiously to this army to deliver it from 
the presence of the foe. Our failure to do so will leave 
us no such w^elcome as the smiling of millions of hearts 
with pride and joy at our success would give to every 
soldier of the array." 

The battle of Gettysburg has been more minutely and 
accurately described than any other great struggle of the 
Avar. Fought upon the soil of Pennsylvania, with re- 
sults directly affecting the fate of its principal towns, 
there are but few intelligent citizens who are not ac- 
quainted with the movements of the contending armies; 
while many are familiar with the topography of the 
field from personal observation, or the excellent " isomet- 
rical map" of Colonel Batcheldor. 

The entire Army of the Potomac, with the exception 
of one brigade of the Sixth Corps, was engaged in this 
contest, and from its magnitude and its results that army 
has secured imperishable glory for all its warriors. 



130 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

Notwithstanding this, there have been accounts carelessly 
published in some of the histories of the war, especially 
by an unknown party in "Moore's Eebellion Record/' 
grossly misrepresenting the heroic efforts of the brigade. 
The writer has omitted from his description of this 
battle, as well as from his reports of many others in 
which the command took an active part, any statement 
of operations except such as were necessary to illustrate 
more fully the brigade line and work. Accounts of the 
battle of Gettysburg in quotation marks are from the 
official report of the brigade commander, Brigadier- 
General Alexander S. AVebb, whose statements none 
will gainsay, wdiile many of the interesting incidents or 
the operations given in detail are from personal observa- 
tion. 

" By order of Brigadier-General Gibbon, commanding 
the division, this brigade Avas put in position at six and 
a half o'clock a.m. on the 2d, on Granite Bidge, on the 
right of the division ; its right resting on Cushing's 
Battery, A, Fourth United States Artillery, and its left 
on Battery B, First Rhode Island Artillery, Lieutenant 
Brown commanding. The Sixty-Ninth Regiment w^as 
placed behind a fence a little in advance of the ridge, 
the remaining three regiments of the brigade under cover 
of the hill in the rear. Brown's Battery was, in the 
course of the day, removed to the front of the Sixty- 
Ninth Regiment. It remained at this point until the 
assault at six and a half p.m." 

Immediately after assuming this position, a detail, 
ordered from each regiment, was advanced as skirmishers 
beyond the Emmettsburg road and parallel with the 
Confederate line of battle on Seminarv Rids^e. This 



GETTYSBURG. 181 

disposition was scarcely coinj)lcted before tlie enemy 
opened with sluxrp-shooters and artillery. " Daring the 
day, both of the batteries on the flanks of the brigade 
engaged those of the enemy, i\\Q shelling wounding 
but few." 

From the ridge occupied by AYebb's Brigade a fine 
view was obtained of the attack made by the Confeder- 
ates on Sickles's Corps in the afternoon, and it soon 
became apparent that the Third Corps must abandon its 
faulty line and prolong that already occupied by the 
Second Corps. General Hancock, quick to anticipate a 
movement, had scarcely prepared to receive an assault 
as the result of Sickles's discomfiture, before the enemy 
were seen advancing. 

A few hundred yards in front of our line of battle and 
towards the left, a farm-house and buildings were located. 
To prevent these affording cover to the enemy, they 
were occupied by the brigade pioneers under Sergeant 
Dietrieck, of the One Hundred and Sixth, with orders 
to destroy them upon a signal from General Webb. 
During the fight of Sickles, the brigade skirmishers 
were engaged for an hour with those of the enemy, both 
parties suffering losses but neither giving ground. This 
contest was also in full view of the entire corps, and the 
manly bearing of their comrades was a matter of pride to 
the men of the Philadelphia Brigade. That portion of 
the field lying between Granite and Seminary Ridge 
being an open plain without trees or shelter, the contests 
of our skirmishers were literally a series of duels fought 
with rifles at an easy range. 

"The enemy made the assault of the 2d at about six 
and a half p.m. Their line of battle advanced beyond 

10* 



182 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

one gun of Brown's Battery, receiving at that point the 
fire of the Sixty-Ninth, of the Seventy-First, advanced 
to the support of the Sixty-Ninth, of the Seventy-Second, 
and of the One Hundred and Sixth, which had pre- 
viously been moved to the left by command of Major- 
General Hancock. Colonel Baxter, Seventy- Second, at 
this time was wounded. The enemy lialted, manoeuvred 
and fell back, pursued by the One Hundred and Sixth, 
Seventy-Second, and part of the Seventy-First. The 
Seventy-Second and One Hundred and Sixth followed 
them to the Emmettsburg road, capturing and sending 
to the rear about tw^o hundred and fifty prisoners, among 
whom were one colonel, five captains, and fifteen lieuten- 
ants." 

This assault, thus officially reported by Webb, was 
executed with much celerity; and when the column of 
the enemy burst forth from the woods on Seminary 
Kidffe, it seemed but a few moments before the Emmetts- 
burg road was crossed, and our skirmishers driven like 
leaves before the fierce wind. As the Confederates 
advanced. Brown's Battery, with the exception of one 
gun, was withdrawn to the rear of the Sixty-Ninth. 
Over this piece there was a brief struggle, but the fire 
of the brigade was terribly severe, causing the enemy to 
hesitate and then fall back. Those of the Confederates 
in the lead threw down their guns and cried out with 
an oath, ^' Get us out of this ; it is too hot." 

And now a counter-charge was handsomely made by 
the regiments named in the report, along with those of 
other brigades ; the assaulting column was rolled back 
almost as quickly as it had advanced. The skirmish 
line was reformed on its old connection, and shortly 



GETTYSBURG. I33 

after, night coming on, the figlit on onr portion of the 
line Avas over for the 2d of July. 

The pioneers in their exposed position were made 
prisoners by the enemy, and the guard left by the cap- 
tors remained at the farm-house with their char ore 
intending to move to the rear as soon as the heavy firing 
w^as over. This decision was fortunate for our detail, 
but unfortunate for the enemy, as the advance of Webb's 
regiments soon swept by the improvised guard-house 
and changed the relations of its occupants. 

The colonel who was captured was an officer of a 
Georgia regiment, and as our men passed him in the 
charge he was lying on the ground wounded, with a 
captain bending over him trying to render assistance. 
After the victory was complete and the line re-established, 
the captain said, "This officer is the colonel of my 
regiment, and from the same place in Georgia ; I was 
afraid he would bleed to death from his wound, and I 
have remained to see that he is cared for. AYon't you 
get him a surgeon? I love him dearly.^' This request 
was complied with, and the same treatment promised as 
that received by the rest of the wounded. As soon as 
he was assured of the care of his friend, the captain 
requested that he might be allowed to rejoin his com- 
mand. On being told that this chivalrous request, 
worthy of the time of Richard Coeur de Lion, could not 
be granted, he was sadly disappointed, saying to one of 
our officers, " You saw that I could have escajied. I 
was not taken prisoner, but simply remained to save the 
life of my friend.^' This Southern knight was turned 
over to the provost guard, and no doubt spent a few 
months of involuntary exile among the "barbarians." 



184 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

The Sixty-Ninth Regiment lost, on this day, Captain 
Michael Duffy, Company I, and Lieutenant Charles 
Kelly, killed ; and Lieutenants John J. Taggart, E. 
O. Harmon, John H. Johnson, and Michael Mullen, 
wounded. 

In the Seventy-Second, Colonel D. W. C. Baxter, 
while leading his men, was severely wounded, and at 
the same time Captain Henry A. Cook was disabled by 
a minie-ball. 

The One Hundred and Sixth lost Lieutenant W. H. 
Smith, killed, and the following officers wounded:. 
Captains John Breidenbach and John J. Sperry ; Lieu- 
tenants Charles S. Schwartz, John Irwin, William May, 
"W. M. Casey, Joshua A. Gage, and Adjutant Ferd. 
M. Pleiss, mortally. The last-named officer behaved 
handsomely in this and other engagements, and his loss 
was deplored by the men of his regiment, with whom he 
was very popular. 

The plan of battle that had been prepared by General 
Lee included a demonstration in force by Ewell upon 
Cemetery Hill and Gulp's Hill, while Longstreet was 
fiohtinof Sickles on our left. For some reason the attack 
of Ewell on our extreme right did not commence until 
after the counter-charge of Hancock's Corps. It Avas 
sunset before the enemy opened with artillery on Ceme- 
tery Hill, followed by a powerful attack by two of 
EwelFs Divisions : one on Cemetery Hill and the other 
on Gulp's Hill. 

The attack on the former position was exceedingly 
spirited. The troops moved out from the town, formed 
into line, and charged directly in face of a heavy fire of 
shrapnel and canister, but failed to reach our guns, being 



GETTYSBURG. 185 

repulsed with heavy loss. The right wing of the column 
of assault on the Cemetery was more successful ; stealing 
up under cover of the houses and depressions of the 
ground, they pushed into Rickett's Battery. The artil- 
lerymen stood to their guns, using rammers and stones. 
The firmness of these men, aided by Carroll's Brigade of 
the Second Corps, repulsed the attack, and the position 
was saved. 

The division assigned by Ewell for the attack of 
Culp's Hill was more successful. It struck that portion 
of the extreme right occupied by the Twelfth Corps, and 
from which heavy detachments had been drawn to re- 
inforce other portions of the field, during the operations 
of the afternoon. There remained at this point but a 
single brigade of the Twelfth Corps under General 
Greene, supported by the division of Wadsworth, con- 
necting on the left. The heaviest attack fell upon 
Greene, wdio, assisted by Wadsworth, maintained his 
ground. The left of EwelPs Division, which overlapped 
this little brigade, took possession of the vacated rifle- 
pits on their right. It was long after dark when the 
fighting ceased, and both parties lay on their arms within 
a short distance of each other. 

General Meade was not slow to perceive the advan- 
tage this foothold had given the enemy, and promptly 
made preparations to drive him out at early dawn. Bat- 
teries were put in position and regiments detached from 
other points to reinforce Howard's Corps on Cemetery 
Hill and the position held by the brigade of General 
Greene. 

The One Hundred and Sixth Regiment was ordered 
to report to General Howard, who placed it on the right 



186 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

of the Baltimore pike, near Ricl^^tt^s Battery, where it 
remained until the close of the battle. This reo^iment 
was highly complimented by Howard, who is reported 
as commending it to his somewhat shattered corps, as 
" one of the regiments of his old brigade." 

The Seventy-First, under Colonel R, Penn Smith, 
was ordered to move at the same time w^ith the One 
Hundred and Sixth and reinforce General Greene. By 
some misunderstanding. Colonel Smith, in attempting to 
go into position, found himself in the presence of a strong 
force of the enemy, and owing to the darkness and want 
of familiarity with the ground, Lieutenants Davis and 
Boughton, with Adjutant Hutchinson and sixteen of the 
men acting as skirmishers, were taken prisoners. After 
this. Colonel Smith assumed the responsibility of re- 
joining his brigade, which he did before daylight. 

The division of Ewell's Corps that had gained a lodg- 
ment near Gulp's Hill was considerably strengthened 
during the night, but before they were ready to advance, 
at early dawn, Meade opened on them with a heavy fire 
of artillery, followed by an attack with the troops of the 
Twelfth Corps, which returned during the night, and by 
Shaler's Brigade of the Sixth Corps. 

A severe struggle now commenced, lasting for four 
hours, and during a part of this time the roll of musketry, 
the roar of artillery, and the bursting of shells were 
deafening. The scene of conflict was for the most part 
covered with woods, and the large number of trees cut to 
pieces with minie-balls or tw^isted and torn by flying 
missiles gave evidence of a terrific struggle. At about 
nine A.M. there w^as a determined charge made by our 
troops, resulting in victory. The line on Culp's Hill 



GETTYSBURG. 187 

was now re-established and the right flank of the army 
secured. 

On the morning of July 3d the Sixty-Ninth Regi- 
ment occupied the same line at the fence in front of 
the clump of trees on the ridge that it held the day 
before, while the Seventy-First was deployed and con- 
nected with its right. One wing of this last regiment 
was stationed at the fence, while the other Avas behind a 
stone wall one hundred paces to the right and rear. 
These echelon positions were connected by a stone wall 
running at right angles with the rail fence, and joining 
the wall occupied by the right battalion. The Seventy- 
Second Regiment was held in reserve, forming a second 
line to the left of Brown's Battery and in rear of Colonel 
HalFs Third Brigjide. 

• After the contest at Gulp's Hill there was a momentary 
pause in the operations of both armies. This unusual 
calm was only broken by an occasional gun or the dis- 
charge of a sharp-shooter's rifle. About one o'clock, 
while the men were wondering what the next movement 
would be in this great battle, a single Whitworth gun 
Avas fired from the extreme left of Seminary Ridge, a 
distance of three miles. The bolt just reached the right 
of our brigade. Then at intervals along the entire line 
solitary shots were fired, as if intended for signal-guns 
of preparation. These were quickly followed by others, 
and in a few moments there burst forth from the whole 
Confederate line a most terrific fire of artillery. One 
hundred and twenty guns concentrated their fire on that 
portion of Meade's position held by the Second Division, 
Second Corps. Shell, round shot, AVliitworth bolts, and 
spherical case were flying over and ex[)loding ab(>ut us 



188 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

at the same time. Almost every second, ten of tliese 
missiles were in the air ; each, as it went speeding on its 
message of death, indicating its form by a peculiar sound. 
The shrieking of shells or the heavy thud of round shot 
were easily distinguished from the rotary whizzing of 
the Whitworth bolt. 

When these agents of destruction commenced their 
horrid work, no portion of the line, from the front to a 
point far in the rear of the Taneytown road, afforded 
any protection against their fury. Men who had been 
struck while serving the guns and were limping towards 
the hospital, were frequently wounded again before they 
had gone a hundred yards. 

In spite of the ghastly forms of mangled men and 
horses, and in spite of dismounted guns, exploding lim- 
bers, and other scenes of terror, produced by Lee's attack, 
the guns of Meade roared back their defiance ; while the 
infantry, powerless for the moment, rested on their arms 
awaiting the bayonet-charge which they knew was sure 
to follow. 

Webb reports, "By a quarter to three o'clock the 
enemy had silenced the Rhode Island Battery, all the 
guns but one of Cushing's Battery, and had plainly 
shown, by his concentration of fire on this and the Third 
Brigade, that an important assault was to be expected. 
I had sent, at two p.m., the adjutant-general of the 
brigade for two batteries to replace Cushing's and 
Brown's. Just before the assault. Captain Wheeler's 
First New York Artillery had got into position on the 
left in the place occupied by tlie Rhode Island Battery, 
which had retired with the loss of all its officers but 
one." 



GETTYSBURG. 189 

By a singular coincidence, the battery of Wheeler, 
now brought to the assistance of the brigade in its deadly 
struggle, had formed a part of the command at Camp 
Observation, and since it had been detached the two 
organizations had not met. 

Webb's officer had a blank order from General Hunt 
for a battery to be taken from any point where it was 
not actually engaged. AYheeler was with the reserve in 
the rear of Howard, and the moment the order was 
received, he started his battery on a trot down the 
Taneytown road towards the field. His progress was 
impeded every few yards by the missiles of the enemy; 
horses were struck down, but the traces were quickly 
cut and the guns started again. Wheeler was perfectly 
cool in this storm of iron, and simply said, ^^ I hope no 
one will get there before me." 

When the New York Battery arrived and went into 
action. Lieutenant Gushing had but one of his guns left, 
and it was served by men of the Seventy-First Kegi- 
ment. The lieutenant had been struck by a fragment 
of shell, but stood by his piece as calmly as if on parade, 
and as the Gonfederate infantry commenced to emerge 
from the woods opposite. Gushing quietly said, " Webb, 
I will give them one shot more; good-by !" The gun 
was loaded by the Galifornia men and run down to the 
fence near the Sixty-Ninth, and at the moment of the 
last discharge, just as the enemy reached the line, the 
brave Gushing fell mortally wounded. 

" At three o'clock the enemy's line of battle left the 
woods in our front, moved in perfect order across the 
Emmettsburg road, formed in the hollow in our imme- 
diate front several lines of battle under a fire of spherical 

17 



190 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

case-shot from Wheeler's Battery and Cushing's gun, 
and advanced for the assault/' 

The Union batteries increased their fire as rapidly as 
possible, but this did not for a moment delay the deter- 
mined advance. The rude gaps torn by the shells and 
case-shot were closed as quickly as they were made. As 
new batteries opened, the additional fire created no con- 
fusion in the ranks of the enemy; its only apparent effect 
was to mark the pathway over the mile of advance with 
the dead and dying. None who saw this magnificent 
charge of Pickett's column, composed of thousands of 
brave men, could refrain from admiring its grandeur. 
As they approached the rail fence their formation was 
irrecrular, and near the front and centre Avere crowded 
together the regimental colors of the entire division ; the 
scene strangely illustrated the divine words, "Terrible 
as an army with banners." 

Now our men close up their ranks and await the 
struggle. The Seventy-Second, by direction of Webb, 
is double-quicked from its position on the left and 
fills the gap on the ridge where Cushing's Battery had 
been in action. Just at this moment Pickett's men 
reach the line occupied by the Sixty-Ninth and the left 
companies of the Seventy-First. General Armistead, 
commanding the leading brigade, composed principally 
of Virginians, in advance of his men, swinging his hat 
on his sword, cries out, "Boys, give them the cold steel!" 
Just then the white trefoil on the caps of our men is 
recognized, and Armistead's men exclaim, " The Army 
of the Potomac ! Do they call these militia ?" 

The final effort for success now commences. The 
advance companies of the Seventy-First are literally 



GETTYSBURG. ]91 

crowded out of their places by the eneniv, and, witli one 
company of the Sixty-Ninth, they form with the re- 
mainder of Colonel Smithes command at the stone fence. 
At the same instant, Colonel Hall's Third Brigade and 
the regiments of the First nnder Devereux and other 
officers, as if by instinct, rush to Webb's assistance, while 
Colonel Stannard moves two regiments of the Vermont 
Brigade to strike the attacking column in the flank. 

And now is the moment when the battle rag-es most 
furiously. Armistead, with a hundred and fifty of his 
Virginians, is inside our lines; only a few paces from 
our brigade commander, they look each other in the 
face. The artillery of the enemy ceases to fire, and 
the gunners of their batteries are plainly seen standing 
on their caissons to view the result, hoping for success ; 
while Pettigrew's Division, following to support Pickett, 
halts as if terrified at the scene. This is the soldier's 
part of the fight ; tactics and alignments are thrown to 
one side. No effort is made to preserve a formation. 
Union men are intermingled with the enemy, and in 
some cases surrounded by them, but refusing to surren- 
der. Rifles, bayonets, and clubbed muskets are freely 
used, and men on both sides rapidly fiill. 

This struggle lasts but a few moments, when the 
enemy in the front throw down their arms, and, rushing 
through the line of the Seventy-Second, hasten to the 
rear as prisoners without a guard ; while others of the 
column who might have escaped, unwilling to risk a re- 
treat over the path by which they came, surrender. The 
battle is over, the last attack of Lee at Gettysburg is 
repulsed, and the highest wave of the llebellion has 
reached its farthest limit, ever after to recede. 



192 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

General Armistead, who was in the Confederate front, 
fell mortally wounded, close to the colors of the Seventy- 
Second. One of the men of that regiment who was 
near him, asked permission of the writer to carry him 
out of the battle, saying, "He has called for help, as 
the son of a ividoio.^' An order was given to take him 
to an ambulance, and when liis revolver was removed 
from his belt, it was seen that he had obeyed his own 
command, "to give the cold steel,^' as no shot had been 
fired from it. 

Among the many curious episodes of this fight, there 
was one which gives a novel view of the imposing claims 
of a chivalrous Southerner. While the struggle was 
going on. Corporal Esher, of the Seventy-Second, cap- 
tured an officer, who w^as considerably his superior in 
size as well as in rank ; and as he was trying to get him 
to the rear of the line, they met one of Webb's officers, 
to whom the Southerner said, "Are you an officer?'' 
^^I am, sir; what is the trouble?" With fierce anger 
on his countenance, he answered, "I came here to be 
treated as a gentleman, and here is a private soldier who 
has taken my sword." In answer to the inquiry, " Why 
did you give it to him?" he sullenly muttered, "How 
could I help it, when he had a loaded musket at my 
breast?" This Virginian had evidently seen a picture 
of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, at Yorktown. 
With a little friendly advice, the gentleman was sent to 
the rear to keep company with the Georgia knight of the 
day before. 

The moment the attack was repulsed and the excite- 
ment of the battle was over, the mournful inquiry passed 
from one to another. Who of our comrades have fallen? 



GETTYSBURG. I93 

During tlie figlit, those of us who were with the rest of 
the brigade knew nothing of the Sixty-Ninth, except 
as we heard their cheers and the crack of their rifles. 
Partly concealed from view by the clump of trees, and 
for a brief time cut off by the enemy in tlicir rear, we 
only knew that they always stayed where they were 
placed. They did not fail on this occasion to hold their 
ground, though at a fearful sacrifice. The regiment 
entered the battle of Gettysburg with two hundred and 
fifty-eight officers and men. Of these, six officers and 
thirty-six men were killed, seven officers and seventy-six 
men were wounded, and two officers and sixteen men 
taken prisoners ; an aggregate loss of one hundred and 
forty-three. Colonel Dennis O'Kane and Lieutenant- 
Colonel Martin Tschudy, two of as brave men as ever 
drew a sword, who had served in every engagement with 
the regiment, were among the slain. Captains Michael 
Duffy and George C. Thompson, and Lieutenant Charles 
F. Kelly, men of equal courage, were also killed. Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Tschudy, though suffering with a wound 
received on the 2d of July, resolutely refused to leave 
his regiment. Major Duffy, who succeeded to the com- 
mand after the loss of the colonel and lieutenant-col- 
onel, was severely wounded during the fight, but kept 
his post until the battle was over. In addition to the 
officers previously mentioned as wounded, are Lieuten- 
ants John Mcllvane and Thomas Woods. 

The casualties in the Seventy-First were also large. 
There were two officers and nineteen men killed, and 
three officers and fifty-five enlisted men wounded. Cap- 
tains John M. Steffan and William H. Dull were killed, 
and Lieutenants John D. Rogers and George C. Whitecar 



194 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

were wounded. From its position behind the stone wall 
this regiment did good service, its fire being made unusu- 
ally effective by a new precaution of Colonel R. Penn 
Smith commanding. After the fight of the 2d, he caused 
a large number of rifles that were left on the ground to 
be gathered up by his men and carried to the regiment. 
These pieces were loaded and distributed along the line, 
rendering it possible, when the enemy came within range, 
for the Seventy- First to fire a number of shots rapidly 
without reloading. 

The Seventy-Second having the largest number of 
men, and a very dangerous position, suffered in these 
actions an aggregate loss heavier than the others. This 
was the case especially on the 3d of July. The moment 
it moved by the flank on the ridge and faced to the 
front, it met a deadly fire. Its severity may be judged 
from the fact that two color-sergeants fell in quick suc- 
cession, while the third had only grasped the standard 
when the staff was struck and broken in the centre by a 
minie-ball. The colors were quickly picked up, and, with 
the shattered staff, held aloft until the victory was won. 
The casualties of the Seventy-Second were, three ofli- 
cers and forty-three men killed, and seven officers and 
one hundred and thirty-nine men wounded. In addi- 
tion to the officers already menticfned, Captains Andrew 
McBride and James J. Griffiths, and Lieutenant Sutton 
Jones, were killed. Lieutenant Jones had been pro- 
moted from a sergeant only a few weeks before, on ac- 
count of his honorable record. 

Captain Griffiths- was serving on the staff of General 
Howard, and received his death- wound just as Lee 
began to fall back from the town. Professor Stoever, of 



GETTYSBURG. 195 

Gettysburg College, gives the following as an illustration 
of the religious character of General O. O. Howard. 
When orders were issued for the army to pursue the 
enemy, the general hastened to the bedside of his beloved 
staff-officer, and, after a few remarks, read to him the 
fourteenth chapter of John, and then, kneeling, com- 
mitted to God his dying brother-in-arms. With a final 
farewell, these friends parted, never to meet again on 
earth. 

Captain Andrew McBride was shot in the throat while 
cheering his men. He fell at the first volley received by 
the Seventy-Second as they formed on the colors. The 
wounded officers of the Seventy- Second were Captains 
R. L. R. Sh reeve and John Lockhart, and Lieutenants 
B. M. Heulings, Frederick Boland, and Robert Stewart. 
The One Hundred and Sixth, having been retained 
by General Howard, w^as not in the infantry engagement, 
but did not escape the severe artillery fire. The mem- 
bers of the regiment that formed part of the brigade 
skirmishers, fought along with the Seventy-Second. The 
regimental officers in charge. Captains John J. Sperry, 
Robert H. Ford, and James C. Lynch, behaved very 
handsomely both on the skirmish line and in the battle. 
The two former officers were severely wounded. 

General Webb won the esteem of his men for his 
skillful management, and for the extraordinary coolness 
displayed in the midst of danger. The distance between 
the position occupied by our brigade commander and 
the place where Armistead stood was thirty-three paces, 
and at thci^^time the Confederate leader fell, Webb re- 
ceived a wound, but, concealing it from thoae about him, 
continued on duty. 



196 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

At the close df General Webb's official report, he 
states, ^^ The brigade captured nearly one thousand 
prisoners and six battle-flags, and picked up fourteen 
hundred stand of arms and nine hundred setts of accou- 
trements. The loss was forty-three officers and four 
hundred and fifty-two men, and only forty-seven were 
missiu":. The conduct of this brio;ade was most satis- 
factory/' 

Among the flags referred to, there was one captured 
from the color-guard of a Virginia regiment, after a 
severe struggle, by Captain Alexander McCuen. This 
flag, along with the others, was sent to the AYar Depart- 
ment, with the names of the captors affixed. 

On the evening of July 3d, rations for three days 
were issued, and about midnight a heavy storm occurred, 
completely drenching the men and reducing the contents 
of their haversacks to a mass of pulp. The next morn- 
ing, July 4th, found many of the troops without food 
and no immediate prospect of obtaining any. Matters 
were rendered still worse from the fact that the condi- 
tion of the dead about us required immediate attention. 
Burial parties were organized by the brigade, and several 
hundred bodies of the Confederate dead were placed in 
trenches on our front. Many of those engaged on this 
sad duty were well-nigh exhausted from hunger and 
fatigue. 

On the morning of July 5th, it was found that the 
Confederate army had left our front and was retreating 
towards the Potomac. The Sixth Corps, under Sedg- 
wick, was at once started in pursuit towards ^uth Moun- 
tain, while the rest of Meade's forces were ordered to 
move in the same general direction. The Second Corps 



GETTYSBURG. 197 

marched to Taneytown and Frederick. On tlie 9th it 
readied Crampton's Gap, Sonth INIountain, and tlie next 
day it moved to a point near Wilh'amsburg, "wliere the 
enemy were at bay, protecting the passage of their trains 
over the river. 

July 14th, after the corps had spent two days in this 
vicinity, manoeuvring and digging rifle-pits, an order 
was received from General Meade to charge the position 
of the enemy at seven a.m. Our advance found the 
Confederate intrenchments deserted, and, with the ex- 
ception of a few stragglers picked up by our men and a 
portion of the rear-guard captured by Kilpatrick, the 
Army of Northern Virginia had crossed the Potomac, 
and the invasion of the JN^orth had been providentially 
brought to an end through the valor of the Army of the 
Potomac. 

General Lee, in his official report of Gettysburg, says, 
"It is not in my power to give a correct statement of 
our casualties, which were severe.'' It has been estimated 
that he lost nearly thirty thousand men ; of which thir- 
teen thousand six liundred and twenty were prisoners. 
According to the War Department, the Union loss was 
two thousand eight hundred and thirty-four killed, thir- 
teen thousand seven hundred and thirty-three wounded, 
and six thousand six hundred and forty-three missing ; 
making a total of twenty-three thousand one hundred 
and ninety. 



CHAPTER XVIL 
THE iiappahan:n^ock and mine run. 

The army crossed tlie Potomac at Harper^s Ferry 
July 18th, 1863, and moved in pursuit of Lee, following 
closely the same route as that pursued after Antietam. 
In this advance along the mountains the cavalry were 
very active and had several encounters with the enemy, 
some of these being of considerable magnitude. 

After passing Bloom field, Upperville, and the vicinity 
of Ashby's Gap, our brigade reached Manassas Gap on 
the 23d. Here we were put in position to support 
Spinola's Brigade, of the Third Corps, which was 
engaged with the enemy. From this point the column 
was headed south, passing Pectortown, Xew Baltimore, 
and Georgetown, to a point southeast of Warrenton. 
The movement was continued by the Second Corps 
marching parallel to the others until July 31st, at which 
date camp was formed near Morrisville Post-Office, in 
the vicinity of our last winter-quarters. The total dis- 
tance marched since leaving Falmouth, on the Gettys- 
burg campaign, was four hundred and thirty-six miles. 

The month of August was spent in comparative quiet 
near Morrisville, the principal duty consisting of a large 
picket detail, relieved every twenty-four hours. 

The brigade Avas commanded in the latter part of the 
198 



THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND MINE RUN. 199 

moiitli by the senior officer present, Lieutenant-Colonel 
\\\ L. Curry, One Hundred and Sixth Regiment. The 
Sixty-Ninth Regiment was commanded by Captain 
Thomas Kelly, the Seventy-First by Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Kochersperger, the Seventy-Second by Major 
Samuel Roberts, and the One Hundred and Sixth by 
Captain John R. Breidenbach. 

At this time there was an unusually large number of 
officers absent from their commands on account of sick- 
ness or wounds, and in some regiments there were com- 
panies without any commissioned officer, which rendered 
necessary the following order to commanders of regi- 
ments : 

"It is hereby directed that regimental commanders 
assign a commissioned officer to take charge of their 
companies where officers are absent. This will be done 
even should it be necessary to give or assign an officer 
to the charge of two or more companies.'^ 

The details for picket and brigade guards were ar- 
ranged each day according to the number "'present for 
duty" reported by the regimental adjutants. Among 
these officers there was a very commendable rivalry, not 
only in the pre])aration of reports and in the promptness 
Avitli which their details were furnished, but especially in 
the soldierly bearing of the men. Each guard, when 
formed, was inspected before going on duty, and seldom 
could troops in garrison excel the appearance and mili- 
tary carriage of these veterans. On one occasion Gen- 
eral Webb was so favorably impressed with an inspection 
he witnessed that he directed the following note to be 
sent to the commanding officer of the Seventy-First: 

"Colonel, — The general commanding desires to say 



200 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

that the military appearance of the guard that reports 
from your regiment this morning deserves special men- 
tion. Their soldierly bearing is worthy of the imitation 
of the men of this command.'^ 

The adjutants of these regiments are entitled to hon- 
orable mention for faithfulness in the discharge of duty. 

The Sixty-Ninth was served by Adjutant William 
Whildey ; the Seventy-First by S. P. Hutchinson ; 
Seventy-Second by Adjutant Charles W. West, who was 
never absent from his post during the entire active ser- 
vice of the regiment. The adjutant of the One Hun^ 
dred and Sixth Regiment Avas Lieutenant John A. Steel, 
who succeeded to the place made vacant by the death of 
Lieutenant Pleis. 

September 12th, the Second Corps moved to Rappa- 
hannock Station, for the purpose of supporting a cavalry 
movement. A crossing was effected at early dawn by 
the divisions of Gregg, Buford, and Kilpatrick, under 
General Pleasonton. Soon after, the cavalry of the 
enemy were met, and, after heavy skirmishing, were 
driven back towards the Rapidan. The corps moved 
forward in aid of Pleasonton, and at four p.m. the col- 
umn reached a point near Culpeper and halted. 

The brigade under General Webb was sent forward 
to occupy the town, there being no infantry betw^een this 
place and the Rapidan. During the three days our com- 
mand performed provost and guard duty at Culpeper, 
we had some striking exhibitions of the bitter feeling of 
the ladies of the South to Northern soldiers. 

At one residence near headquarters the lady occupants, 
whose male relations were no doubt in the Southern army, 
notified an officer who volunteered a safeguard, " that they 



THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND MINK RUN. 201 

wanted no favors from Yankees." Another woman, 
tliongli equally severe in her hatred, was compelled in- 
voluntarily to pay our troops a fine compliment. This 
ivatron had the deputation of being a letter-carrier for 
the Confederacy, and had failed to pass our lines, giving 
up the effort in disgust, and at the same time confessing 
that she had always succeeded before. Her plans were 
simple and easily detected. Among other arrangements 
for her purpose, she adopted the disguise of a farmer's 
wife. Dressed in the plainest costume, without shawl or 
bonnet, and driving before her a cow that had apparently 
strayed from its pasture, she would carelessly saunter 
past the Union pickets on her way to the lines of the 
enemy. 

September 17th we left Culpeper and marched to 
Somerville Ford on the Kapidan, where the brigade 
relieved Kilpatrick's division of cavalry, which had 
been guarding the river. A short time before our ar- 
rival at the ford some of these cavalrymen had been fur- 
nished with new carbines, and, anxious to try their range, 
had used the enemy's pickets as targets, greatly irritating 
their videttes. As our men went forward to relieve 
posts near the river, the Confederates called out, '^ Lay 
down, Yanks ; we are going to fire on the cavalry as they 
are relieved." They kept their word, and as Kilpatrick's 
men were withdrawn they had to run the gauntlet. 

The brigade remained on this duty until the end of 
September, and the work became quite monotonous, not 
being relieved by excitement except in one instance, and 
that of an unusual character. 

The signal-officers of the Army of the Potomac had 
possession of the code used by the Confederates, and by 

18*^ 



202 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

this means often read the messages of the enemy when 
their signal-flags could be seen. One of these intercepted 
dispatches, from General Lee to General Early, read, 
"Send over two men" (naming them), "and see what 
the Yankees are doing." With the announcement of the 
premeditated visit of these spies, orders were given for 
extra care on the part of those on post. In spite of all 
precautions the visitors came, and, having successfully 
accomplished their purpose, safely returned with their 
information. To signalize this audacity, they captured 
two teamsters, who were afterwards released at the ford 
by which the scouts returned to the Confederate side of 
the river. 

Our troops could only account for this escape on the 
same principle that so many errors and false movements 
were made occasionally by detachments of the army: 
want of accurate information of the by-roads and passes 
of the country. 

October 6th the command was relieved from picket 
duty, and it returned to Culpeper, where it remained 
until the 10th. While the army of Meade was oc- 
cupying the line of the Rapidan a considerable num- 
ber of substitutes and drafted men were received, and 
were distributed among the regiments. The arrivals did 
not materially increase our strength, as large numbers of 
them deserted at the first opportunity, while many who 
w^ere disposed to remain were physically unfit for service, 
and should never have been passed by the surgeons. 

On the date of our arrival at Culpeper the right of 
the army was near James City, which was held by Kil- 
patrick's cavalry supported by a part of the Third Corps. 
These troops were unexpectedly attacked by Stuart's 



THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND MINK RUN. 203 

cavalry on the 10th and driven into Cnlpcper. This 
assault indicated the advance of Lee in another offensive 
movement, and at once gave evidence to INIeade that his 
right was already turned. During the night our trains 
were sent over the Rapj^ahannock, and at midnight the 
army began a retrograde movement. By daylight of 
the 11th the whole force was north of the river, and the 
bridge at the station was blown up. The same day the 
Confederate army occupied Culpeper, while their advance 
was pressing the rear of our column. 

General Meade, still uncertain as to the plan of Lee, 
but aware of his position at Culpeper, determined to re- 
cross the Rappahannock with his entire army except the 
Third Corps, and offer battle. Accordingly the move- 
ment was executed on the 12th, and after passing to the 
south of the river with the Second, Fifth, and Sixth 
Corps, with Buford's cavalry, deployments were made 
ready for action. In the mean time Lee had resumed 
his northward march, and was again endeavoring to turn 
the right flank of the Union army. During the transfer 
of the main body the Third Corps had been left on the 
north side to guard the fords, while the cavalry of Gregg 
picketed the up})er crossings. On the afternoon of the 
12th Gregg was driven back on his supports by the van 
of the Confederates, and the information thus received, 
disclosing the advance, was transmitted at once to Gen- 
eral Meade. 

The relative manoeuvring of the two armies had 
brought about an unusual situation. While Lee with 
his force was north of the Rappahannock, heading 
towards Washington, the main force of the Union army 
was south of the river, facing in the direction of Rich- 



204 HISTOJiY OF THE PIflLADKLPNIA BRIGADE. 

mond. To extricate himself from this false position, 
Meade acted promptly, and directed another retrograde 
movement. This order found the corps near Brandy 
Station, in bivouac, awaiting battle, as they supposed, 
from the Confederates at daylight. At two a.m. on the 
13th the movement began, and the two armies entered 
on one of the usual races towards Bull Run and Centre- 
ville. At daylight the Second Corps reached Fayette- 
ville, and rested until two p.m., then marched to AYar- 
renton Junction and halted for the night. 

At this point a singular affair occurred, giving an 
amusing illustration of the audacity of Stuart, the Con- 
federate cavalryman. His division of cavalry, in pres- 
sing one of our corps, had penetrated between it and 
another column running parallel, and at night was fairly 
encompassed with our infantry. Carefully concealing 
his force Avithin dense woods, he sent men dressed as 
Union soldiers through our lines to notify Lee of his 
position. At daylight, while an attack by way of di- 
version was made on Caldwell's Division of the Second 
Corps, Stuart opened with his artillery, and succeeded, 
during the confusion, in cutting his Avay through the rear- 
guard. 

Early on the 14th the Philadelphia Brigade, under 
Colonel D. W. C. Baxter, was detailed to convoy the 
ammunition train of the corps, and started on this duty, 
keeping on the right of the column. While on this 
march the rest of the corps, under General Warren, had 
a spirited engagement at Bristoe Station, Orange and 
Alexandria Railroad. This fight was with HilFs Corps, 
Avhich Avas pressing the rear of the Fifth, unconscious that 
the Second Corps \Yiis on its flank. The brunt of the 



THE RAPPAHANXOCK AND MINE RUN. 205 

battle was borne by the First and Third Brigades, Second 
Division, under General Webb, and the Third Brigade, 
Third Division, under General Owen. It resulted in a 
victory for our corps, which captured four hundred and 
fifty prisoners, five guns, and three battle-flags. Our 
forces lost in this action about two hundred in killed 
and wounded. 

Among the casualties in the battle of Bristoe were 
three officers of the brigade who were on detached ser- 
vice. Lieutenant Michael Coste, Company C, Seventy- 
Second, was killed ; he was a young officer of great 
courage, and of such a frank and generous nature that he 
won the attachment of his comrades. Coste was serving 
with General Owen, when he was struck with a minie- 
ball while receiving an order from his commander. 
Captain Francis Wessels, One Hundred and Sixth, aid 
to General Webb, and Captain James C. Lynch, of the 
same regiment, aid on the Third Division staff, were 
wounded. 

The morning of the 15th found Meade in possession 
of Bull Run and Centreville, and the winner of the last 
race towards Washington. After a few movements by 
way of feints. General Lee commenced slowly falling 
back; taking time to destroy the railroad thoroughly as 
he went. 

On the 19th Meade leisurely started in pursuit. The 
Second Corps reached a point within three miles of 
Warrenton on the 22d, and halted there ; the command 
remained until November 7th, awaiting repairs that were 
beino; made to the Orano-e and Alexandria Railroad. 
This work, so necessary in the forwarding of sup[)lies 
for a permanent advance, having been completed, the 

18* 



206 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

entire army contiDiied its march towards tlie Rappahan- 
nock in two columns ; the left composed of the First, 
Second, and Third Corps, and the right of the Fifth and 
Sixth. The advance of the left column crossed at 
Kelly^s Ford by wading, and carried the enemy's rifle- 
pits with but little loss, taking five hundred prisoners. 
The right encountered considerable opposition at their 
place of crossing, Rappahannock Station, but a storm- 
ing party of RusselFs and Upton's Brigades carried the 
works by a handsome charge, capturing fifteen hundred 
prisoners, four guns, and eight battle-flags. 

Soon after these columns had crossed. General Lee 
abandoned his line at Culpeper, and withdrew across 
the Rapidan, leaving the Army of the Potomac to occupy 
the same positions near Culpeper which it held before 
the late movements began. 

From the 8th of November until the 26th the Second 
Corps was encamped near Brandy Station. Towards the 
latter date orders were issued for ten days' rations to be 
carried in haversacks, and every preparation seemed to 
indicate another movement by General Meade. 

The final order was received on the night of the 25th, 
and at daylight of the 26th the different cor])s Avere in 
motion towards the Rapidan. The Second Corps crossed 
without opposition, at Germania Ford, and, advancing 
four miles bevond the river, halted for the nicrht. 

On this expedition the senior colonels of the brigade, 
as was frequently the case, were in command of other 
brigades, and during the absence of General Webb, 
commanding the Second Division, the Philadelphia 
Brigade was placed under Colonel A. F. Devereux, 
Nineteenth Massachusetts. The passages marked as 



THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND MINK RUN. 207 

quotations in the account of this movement are from 
Colonel Devereux's official report. 

^^ At eight A.M., 27th, the corps moved in the direc- 
tion of Robertson's Tavern, encountering the enemy's 
advanced posts just this side. This brigade, leading the 
division, was ordered to occupy a ridge on the right of 
the road, sending out a regiment as skirmishers to meet 
the enemy beyond. The Seventy-Second Pennsylvania 
Volunteers was deployed, and with Lieutenant-Colonel 
Hesser at its head started gallantly over the crest, and 
at once became engaged. The remainder of the brigade, 
consisting of the Seventy-First, One Hundred and Sixth, 
and Sixty-Xinth, advanced in line of battle to the crest, 
and there lay down. The Seventy-Second were press- 
ing the enemy warmly in front, and continued to press 
them until the death of their leader, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Hesser, when for an instant some confusion occurred and 
they gave ground; but they were very soon re-formed, 
and they regained their position and held it during the 
day. Lieutenant-Colonel Hesser was shot urging his 
men on to the charge, being himself in advance of his 
line and displaying great gallantry. He was shot through 
the head, and must have died instantly. Very nearly 
at this time the general commanding the division sent 
orders to move a regiment to the right of the picket- 
line, to a cluster of houses that formed an important 
position at that point. The One Hundred and Sixth 
was dispatched under Lieutenant-Colonel Curry, and 
gained the point immediately. Demand was then made 
for another regiment to strengthen our advanced line on 
the left. The Seventy-First was sent to this point under 
liieutenant-Colonel Kocherspergcr, Colonel Sniitli of this 



208 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

regiment being in command of the entire picket-line of 
the division.'^ 

At the same time with the movement of the Seventy- 
First, the Sixty-Ninth, under Major Duffy, was ordered 
as a support for our line on the right. This regiment 
had scarcely taken position before it received a heavy 
fire, and three regiments from the First Brigade were 
sent to assist it in repulsing the enemy. After this affair 
there was only desultory firing during the remainder of 
the afternoon, and at night-fall the troops held their 
position. 

The official report of Colonel Devereux is so unusually 
full of details that it will be read with great interest. 
This well-known and respected officer of a New Eng- 
land regiment, temporarily in command of our brigade, is 
free from the charge of partiality to Pennsylvania troops. 

^^At daybreak on the 28th, the division Avas formed 
in line of battle to sweep the woods in our front. The 
line advanced for some two miles through dense woods 
and over fences, gaining ground to the left as it pro- 
ceeded, and under all the circumstances the line was 
wonderfully kept. The enemy's skirmishers were en- 
countered finally, covering a strong position on Mine 
Run. The line was halted on the edge of the woods 
towards the enemy at about three-quarters of a mile 
from their works. The brigade was here taken out of 
the division line and placed in reserve. Everything 
remained quiet during that day and night. At day- 
light on the 29th of November, the division marched, 
forming the rear of the corps column, and after a detour 
reached the enemy's right flank about two hours before 
dark, and was placed in reserve." 



THE happahannock and mine run. 209 

"At two o'clock the next morning the Second Division 
was moved to the front, near the picket-lines, and formed 
in two lines, prepared for an assault on the enemy's 
works at that point. The first line consisted of the 
Philadelphia Brigade and two regiments of the First 
Brigade under my command." 

" The morning was bitterly cold and most disagree- 
able. No fires could be allowed, and patient endurance 
had to supply all Avants. Notwithstanding the known 
fact that the column was there to lead an assault that 
was in its nature a forlorn hope, where death Avas almost 
certain, I never saw more resolution or good spirits man- 
ifested. Officers and men were able to look with cheer- 
fulness on the prospect and calmly await orders to move." 

The scene presented by the men as they prepared to 
assault was one of the most heroic of the war. Many 
had written their names on pieces of paper and fastened 
them to their garments ; others had torn strips of under- 
clothing to be used for bandages, and some, with a semi- 
ludicrous thoughtfulness, had filled their pockets with 
'^ hard-tack," so that for a time at least they would not 
suffer with hunger if wounded or captured. While the 
dangerous character of the work was fully realized, yet 
every one seemed ready to move forward at the word of 
command. 

"If men could have carried that position, I believe 
this division would have done it. They felt that they 
had been assigned for desperate service, and would never 
disgrace themselves or their commander." 

"After daybreak the enemy's position disclosed six- 
teen guns. Ten of these were in an embrasured work, 
with ditch and abattis in front, and rifle-])its in front of 



210 HISTORV OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

all, with curtains for infantry on the right, giving a flank 
fire on any attacking force." 

The instructions to General Warren, commanding 
Second Corps, from General Meade were to assault the 
right of the enemy at an early hour in the morning, the 
signal to be heavy cannonading by Sedgwick on our 
right. As soon as an observation of the enemy's w^orks 
could be made, Warren determined to take the responsi- 
bility of suspending the attack. Word w^as dispatched 
to Meade, who rode rapidly over the four miles sepa- 
rating him from our position, and, after surveying the 
ground, he countermanded the assault. 

"All that day the command remained in position, and 
at night-fall it was withdrawn some three hundred yards 
to the rear in line of battle. That night and the next 
day remained undisturbed, not a shot breaking the com- 
plete stillness on either side. At eight p.m., December 
1st, orders were received to move in retreat. The en- 
tire corps fell back that night, recrossing the river at 
Culpeper ford, — the Second Division bringing up the 
rear.'' 

The night of the 2d found the whole command in its 
old camps near Stevensburg. Colonel Devereux says, 
in concluding his report, — 

" I desire to mention Lieutenant-Colonel Hesser for 
distinguished personal bravery. No man could have 
behaved better as he led his lines." This was the 
universal testimony of the officers and men of the 
brigade. 

Devereux further adds, " On leaving the line in front 
of the enemy, the necessity for secrecy required that two 
men from each regiment should remain to keep up the 



THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND MINE RUN. 211 

camp-fires until three o'clock the next morning, — this 
concealed the appearance of a retreat. I take pleasure 
in mentioning the names of those who in each regiment 
volunteered for this duty, most unpleasant to contemplate, 
since it left them, as it were, deserted by their comrades, 
with the prospect of a Richmond prison or starvation to 
cheer them through a long night of lonely watching : 

"Sergeant Edward Teague, Company F, Seventy- 
First Pennsylvania Volunteers. 

"Corporal Isaiah B. Tapp, Company F, Seventy- 
First Pennsylvania Volunteers. 

" Corporal Frederick Murphy, Company H, Sixty- 
Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers. 

" Private Francis McKee, Company D, Sixty-Ninth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers. 

" Corporal William H. Hill, Company E, Seventy- 
Second Pennsylvania Volunteers. 

" Corporal Nathaniel Rhoads, Company I, Seventy- 
Second Pennsylvania^Volunteers. 

" Corporal William H. Myers, Company A, One 
Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers. 

" Private Peter Scheik, Company D, One Hundred 
and Sixth Pennsylvania A^olunteers. 
" Respectfully submitted, 

"(Signed) A. F. Devereux, 
"Colonel Commanding Second Brigade." 

The "Richmond Despatch,'' about this date, contained 
a letter dated November 28th, from a correspondent in 
Lee's army, which singularly corroborates the statement 
of our brigade commander concerning the fight at Rob- 
ertson's Tavern. The writer says, " The forces of Lee 



212 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

lost fully five hundred in killed and wounded. Of the 
loss of the enemy I am not advised ; but I am now 
disposed to doubt if it was as heavy as ours. They 
fought, I am told, quite well, and fired more accurately 
than usual.'' 

The loss of the brigiade in this movement was remark- 
ably small. There were ten killed or missing in action, 
and twenty-five wounded. 

Active operations of an extensive character were now 
over for the season, and the two great armies, while 
resting in winter-quarters on either side of the Rapidan, 
were engaged in preparations for the deadly struggle 
that was sure to come with the opening of spring. 

This inactivity was broken once during the winter 
by a small diversion in favor of one of Butler's opera- 
tions on the Peninsula. On February 7th, the division 
crossed the Rapidan at Morton's Ford, threatening an 
advance. The brigade had the lead, and while the skir- 
mishers were Avading the river, Lieutenant Seabury, 
Seventy- First, aid to General Owen, rode through it 
and captured three of the enemy's pickets. The brigade 
lost no men in this movement, not being engaged in 
action. 

The five months spent in winter-quarters near Ste- 
vensburg were marked by more than usual social privi- 
leges to officers and men. Profiting by field experience, 
laro^e numbers of the men made the best use of the ma- 
terials at their disposal, and rendered their quarters quite 
comfortable, while many of the officers, having obtained 
logs and boards from a saw- mill near the camp, erected 
cabins, not only convenient for use, but in some cases 
quite ornamental in appearance. A large number of 



THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND MINE RUN. 213 

ladies who had relations in the service, or acquaint- 
ances, availed themselves of permission to visit the 
army. 

After quarters for troops had been provided, the saw- 
mill was kept in operation to furnish boards for a large 
frame structure near Second Corps headquarters. This 
building, when completed, was used for a ball, giv^en by 
the officers of the Second Corps to the ladies who were 
in camp. The regimental and headquarter flags deco- 
rated the interior of the buildino;, while the "sta«:e 
scene" was ornamented with a battery of highly-j)olished 
Napoleon guns, camp-scenes, shelter-tents, and stacked 
arms. A large number of guests were present from 
Washington, including cabinet officers and members of 
foreign legations. The ball-room, when the festivities 
were at their height, was certainly very brilliant. The 
trials and sufferings of the past were temporarily for- 
gotten, and it is not likely that any of those who were 
present cared to anticipate the transformations of the 
future. 

During the remainder of the time in winter-quarters, 
the ball-room was used by the private soldiers for min- 
strel performances and concerts. Some of t\\Q amateurs 
engaged in these amusements were very entertaining, and 
thoroughly understood the business. 

During this period, the men were furnished inadver- 
tently Avith another intellectual amusement, by an order 
received through General Hancock. This was to the 
effect that the Government desired to secure the services 
of soldiers who were experienced seamen, for the West- 
ern gunboat flotilla. The desire for change of scene, 
and esj^ecially an inclination to get rid of long marches, 

19 



214 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

led many of the men to apply for examination prepara- 
tory to transfer. 

To properly test the qualifications of the candidates 
as seamen, a board of officers was appointed, and fur- 
nished with a model of a full-rigged man-of-war. The 
aspirant for naval honors was expected to describe the 
model, and also explain the points of the compass. In 
a brief period there were large numbers who applied for 
permission to be examined, and throughout the camp 
men were using nautical terms and essaying to box the 
compass. 

This pastime was brought to an end by an explanatory 
order from Hancock, setting forth the fact that ^^ service 
on canal-boats or Western propellers did not qualify 
men for seamanship.^' Soon after this the board was 
dissolved, and the few "old salts" discovered by its 
inquiries were duly transferred to the naval service. 

March, 1864, General Alexander S. Webb was trans- 
ferred from the Philadelphia Brigade, and assigned to 
the command of the First Brigade in the Second Division. 
General Joshua T. Owen was at the same time trans- 
ferred from the Third Brigade, Third Division, to this 
brigade, and at once resumed his old command. The 
One Hundred and Fifty-Second New York Volunteers 
was added to the brigade on March 26th, and formed a 
part of the command during the remainder of its service. 
This regiment had an aggregate, present and absent, of 
five hundred and eighteen men, and a total present for 
duty of fifteen officers and three hundred and seventy 
men. 

The Sixty-Ninth Pennsylvania Regiment having 
largely re-enlisted, a furlough for thirty days was 



THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND MINE RUN. 215 

granted the veterans on the 14th of March, and they 
retnrned to Philadelpliia. Wliile in that city the green 
flag that had been carried with tlie national colors in all 
the campaigns of the regiment was deposited in Inde- 
pendence Hall, and a new one was presented by its 
friends. Major Duffy having resigned on account of 
wounds, Captain William Davis was promoted to the 
vacant position and assumed command of the regiment. 

On th^ 4th of April, Colonel T. J. Morehead, One 
Hundred and Sixth, who had served faithfully in the 
various positions assigned him, tendered his resignation, 
and was honorably discharged. Major Stover, of the 
same regiment, having been promoted colonel of the 
One Hundred and Eighty-Fourth P. V., Captain John 
J. Sperry, Company A, was commissioned major. 

Each of the regiments had a small increase of num- 
bers by the addition of substitutes and conscripts, and 
every effort was made by General Owen to promote 
efficiency, by constant drills and inspections. On April 
30th, 1864, the brigade report was as follows: 





Total Present 
and Absent. 


Present. 


Officers. 


Blen. 


GOth P. V. 

71st P. V. 

72d P. V. 
lOGth P. V. 
152(1 N. Y. 


342 

580 
G31 
429 
518 


20 
13 
12 
9 
15 


304 
303 
284 
229 
370 




2509 


69 


1490 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE WILDERNESS. 



President Lincoln, on March 10th, 1864, assigned 
Lieutenant-General Grant to the command of all the 
armies of the United States. The promulgation of this 
order gave the assurance, for the first time in the his- 
tory of the Rebellion, that unilty of purpose and simulta- 
neous movements on the part of all our forces might be 
expected in the campaign shortly to open. 

The theory of action to which General Grant was 
committed by his recent campaign in the West was best 
described in his own terms as a "continuous haiihmer- 
ing.'^ Having in view the destruction of Lee's army, 
the lieutenant-general lost no time in preparing plans 
for the operations about to be commenced. 

Towards the end of March the headquarters of the 
lieutenant-general were established with the Army of 
the Potomac, "until further orders." Considerable re- 
inforcements were brouo^ht forward and distributed 
among the different corps, while the entire command of 
Buruside was added to the Army of the Potomac, and 
formed an indej^endent corps, separate from the control 
of General Meade. 

The additions that were made to the effective strength 
of the army consisted principally of entire organizations. 
216 



THE WILDERNESS. 217 

New regiments that had been recently formed, and others 
which had been guarding depots of supply, or perform- 
ing garrison duty in the forts about Washington, were 
ordered to the front, and distributed to the different 
corps. Among the latter arrivals were the heavy artil- 
lerists of General Tyler's command. These troops had 
been drilled as infantry regiments, and they presented a 
fine appearance, and proved of great service in the cam- 
paign. When they joined the Army of the Potomac 
their full ranks contained as many men as some of the 
depleted brigades of the veterans. 

The practice of increasing the force of the army by 
adding entire organizations of new troops, frequently 
led by officers w^ho had seen but little if any active ser- 
vice, was adopted as the policy of several of the States, 
and notably by Pennsylvania. Massachusetts and a few 
of the Western States pursued the wiser plan of strength- 
ening regiments already in the field. The new organi- 
zation system was probably adopted as the easier method 
to raise men through the personal efforts of officers, that 
commissions might be secured. Experience showed that 
this practice was an unwise one, and that the object 
aimed at might have been more effectual ly accomplished 
by offering special bounties for recruits to old regiments. 
The additional amount of money required by the adop- 
tion of this plan would have been well expended, and 
the benefit to the service far greater. 

The beneficial effects of the plan adopted by the State 
of Massachusetts were fully demonstrated in our divi- 
sion. One of tlfeir regiments received two hundred 
and fifty Germans who had been sent forward as a ])or- 
tion of the State quota. These men were mercenaries, 

19* 



218 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

and lacked the incentives to fight which are supposed 
to animate the volunteer; but in spite of this disadvan- 
tage and the inconvenience resulting from inability to 
speak our language, they made rapid progress towards 
efficiency. The credit of fitting these foreigners for their 
duties belonged almost as much to the non-commis- 
sioned officers and privates of the regiment as to the 
company commanders. From the time they reported 
for duty, the influence and example of their associates 
gave them lessons of experience and supplemented the 
instructions of officers. If these recruits had been Amer- 
ican citizens, the task of instructing them would, of 
course, have been far easier. The benefit attending this 
experiment w^as more fully seen in other regiments, and 
resulted in the mutual advantage of the recruits and 
the organizations to which they w^ere assigned. 

The latter part of April found the army composed of 
over one hundred and fifty thousand men, ready for an 
immediate movement. The corps had been reorganized, 
consolidated, and fully equipped. 

The three corps into which the army had been con- 
solidated were the Second, under Major-General AY. S. 
Hancock, the Fifth, under Major-General G. K. War- 
ren, and the Sixth, under Major-General John Sedg- 
wick. The command of the army remained under 
Major-General George G. Meade, through whom the 
lieutenant-general issued the orders for the principal 
operations. 

These generals were well known and respected by 
their commands, and, although possessing qualifications 
or characteristics differing widely from each other, they 
were eminently fitted for their positions. The old 



THE WILDERNESS. 219 

Second Corps had been commanded in turn by all these 
corps commanders, and had won distinction under each 
of them. The youngest of these officers, General A\ ar- 
ren, was of acknowledged ability as an engineer officer; 
and his knowledge of the country obtained in this branch 
of the service, as well as his skill and personal gallantry, 
made him an efficient leader in the victory at Bristoe 
Station. 

General Sedgwick, the former commander of the di- 
vision, familiarly spoken of by the soldiers as "Uncle 
John,'' was always a favorite with his command. He 
was affiible and pleasant in manner, yet strict in obedi- 
ence to his orders and exacting in his demands for similar 
compliance by those under him. The Second Corps, in 
remaining under the command of General Hancock, had 
their confidence strengthened by the experience of more 
than a year that they would be ably led and have every 
opportunity to maintain their high renown as one of the 
fighting corps of the Army of the Potomac. There 
are some officers whose appearance on the battle-field, or 
at the head of a column, imparts hope and secures the 
admiration of those serving under them. Hancock not 
only possessed this influence, but had the prestige that 
came from past success and that inspired anticipations of 
brilliant achievements in the future. During the period 
the corps had been under his immediate command, it 
had never met a surprise from the enemy or lost a gun 
in action. For a considerable share of his success Gen- 
eral Hancock was indebted to careful attention to de- 
tails and his habit of demanding prompt obedience to 
minor orders, as well as those of a more important char- 
acter. Until these traits were understood and known 



220 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

to be the principles of his military action, the general 
bore the character among volunteer officers of a mar- 
tinet. 

Many of the officers of the Second Corps had the 
opportunity to profit by the example of their leader, 
and no doubt can furnish illustrations of his influence in 
moulding their habits. On the evening of the second 
day at Gettysburg, after the fight in front of the brigade 
was over and the enemy were repulsed, a brigade officer 
re-established the picket-line in its old position near the 
Emmettsburg road. The duty was completed at dark', 
and as soon as he had assured himself of the proper 
connections on each flank of the line he rode back to 
the brigade. Here he was met by Hancock, who asked 
him to indicate the line, adding the question, "What- 
troops did you connect with ?'' On receiving the reply, 
" I am sure the connection is perfect, but did not ascer- 
tain to what regiments they belong," the officer was di- 
rected to personally make this inquiry. While on the 
march towards the Rapidan, the Second Brigade com- 
mander was ordered to place guards well out on the 
flank of the column, at the roads leading from the main 
route. While an officer was giving instructions to a 
sergeant in charge of one of these details. General Han- 
cock happened to be passing ; reining in his horse, he 
said, " What orders are you giving your guard ?'' " I 
am instructing the sergeant to direct General Birney, 
who commands the corps that is following ours, to re- 
lieve this guard with one from his command." " What 
do you say, sir ?" was the reply ; " a sergeant direct a 
major-general ?" 

This strict attention to the spirit and the letter of 



THE WlLDEIiNESS. 221 

duties and instructions, had it obtained more extensive 
practice among those in command, would liave frequently 
brought success and prevented disaster. 

The Second Division remained under Brigadier-Gen- 
eral John Gibbon, and the brigades were commanded as 
follows: First Brigade, Brigadier-General A. S. Webb; 
Second Brigade, Brigadier-General Joshua T. Owen ; 
Third Brigade, Colonel S. S. Carroll. 

The plans of Generals Grant and Meade were formed, 
and the force awaited the command to move forward on 
its campaign of " continuous hammering." This w^as not 
long delayed, and on the 3d of May an order was issued 
that the army would move that night toward its objective, 
the Confederate army under Lee. 

The order for the Second Division was received in 
the evening, and is inserted as a reminiscence of the 
initiative in the most terrific and bloody campaign of 
the war : 

" Headquarters, Second Division. 
"May 3cl, 1864. 
" Circular, 

" The division will be ready to march to-night at eleven 
and a half o'clock, in the following order : First, Second, 
and Third Brigades right in front. Right of column 
next to corps headquarters. Spring Avagons belonging 
to headquarters in the order of commanders, to be fol- 
lowed by ambulances, ammunition, and baggage wagons. 
The Stony Mountain detachments to break up camp after 
dark and join the column, getting to the east of the 
Stevensburg road as soon as possible, the train in front. 
At every halt trooi)s will be massed. 



222 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

" Brigade commanders will report at these headquarters 
at ten o'clock. 

" The division pioneers in front of division. 

" By command of Brigadier-General Gibbox. 
"John M. Norvell, A. A. G.'' 

The " spring wagons" referred to in this order were 
ambulances with dark covers, prepared for the use of 
division and brigade headquarters in transporting official 
papers, and also the mess supplies. After the opening of 
the campaign the number of wounded was so large that 
it became necessary to use these wagons for the ambu- 
lance corps, and pack animals were substituted in their 
stead. 

At midnight, May 3d, the army moved in two columns 
towards the Rapidan. The right column, composed of 
the corps of Warren and Sedgw^ick, reached Germania 
Ford at daylight on the 4th. After a bridge was laid, 
Warren commenced crossing, and was followed by Sedg- 
wick's Corps in the afternoon. The operation was com- 
pleted by evening, both corps resting at night on the 
south of the Rapidan. 

The Second Corps, under Hancock, moved towards 
Ely's Ford, preceded by a division of cavalry under 
General Gregg. Upon our arrivalat the river we found 
that the cavalry had already crossed, and that a ponton 
bridge was nearly laid. Soon after the bridge was com- 
pleted, Hancock advanced and continued the march to a 
point beyond the plank road, near the Chancellorsville 
House. This place was reached at three o'clock on the 
afternoon of May 4th, where a halt was made to await 
the advance of the column on the right. This night we 



THE WILDERNESS. 223 

bivouacked on the old battle-ground of Hooker^ but 
drew no special inspiration from its historical associa- 
tions. 

The gloomy region of country called the Wilderness, 
into which over one hundred thousand Union soldiers 
had entered, is a labyrinth of forests, in many places 
filled with tangled underbrush, penetrated by few roads, 
and these for the most part narrow and easily obstructed. 
The advantage possessed by an advancing force of con- 
cealing its movements Avas more than neutralized by the 
ease with which the enemy, familiar with the ground, 
could form ambuscades or direct sudden attacks on col- 
umns while marching. 

It was evident that General Grant did not desire nor 
anticipate a battle in this wilderness region, and ordered 
the movements for Thursday, May 5th, which, if unin- 
terrupted in their execution, would have brought the 
army quite beyond its bounds by night-fall. 

At five A.M., May 5th, the Second Corps continued its 
march towards Shady Grove church, taking the road by 
the Furnaces and Todd's Tavern. At nine o'clock the 
advance of our corps was two miles beyond Todd's Tav- 
ern, when a dispatch was received from General Meade 
directing Hancock "to halt the column, as the enemy 
had been discovered in some force on the A\ ilderness 
pike." 

When the Second Corps moved forward, the right 
column, which had bivouacked near the Wilderness 
Tavern, also resumed its march. The Fifth Corps, under 
Warren, had the advance, and its point of direction was 
Parker's Store, on the Orange and Fredericksburg plank 
road. As Warren passed the turnpike on his way to- 



224 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

wards the plank road, he threw out the division of Griffin 
as a protection to the flank of Sedgwick's Corps, Avhich 
was following the Fifth. 

While the Union forces were thus pushing towards the 
south of the Wilderness, the army of General Lee was 
marched by its commander towards our column, with the 
determination of compelling a fight in this, to us, un- 
known country. 

Griffin had hardly gone into position when his skir- 
mishers met those of the enemy belonging to EwelFs 
Corps, who were approaching by the turnpike. At tlie 
same time, Crawford's Division of the Fifth Corps mov- 
ing towards Parker's Store on the plank road encountered 
Hill's Corps moving to the attack. These developments 
unmasked the plans of Lee, and at once indicated to 
Generals Meade and Grant that the Confederates, instead 
of deciding to act on the defensive, as had been expected, 
had really adopted the offensive, and were boldly putting 
their plans into execution. 

The two roads by which the enemy was approaching 
the positions of the Fifth and Sixth Corps were nearly 
parallel to each other, and extended in a general east and 
west direction. The turnpike crosses the. road to Ger- 
mania Ford, near the old Wilderness Tavern, and the 
plank road crosses the Brock road, which is a connection 
of the Ger mania road two miles south of the tavern. 

The heaviest opposition having been encountered by 
the division of Griffin on the upjSer or turnpike road, 
an attack was ordered at that point by General Grant, 
who had arrived in the vicinity. Wadsworth's Division 
was joined with Griffin, and also a brigade from Craw- 
ford, that had been recalled from its movement on the 



THE WILDERNESS. 225 

plank road. The operations on this road were suspended 
shortly after these dispositions, and the remainder of 
Crawford's command was withdrawn, sharply followed 
by the enemy, who fired on the rear-gTiard. 

At noon the division of Griffin moved out on the 
turnpike to attack the enemy. The brigade of Ayres 
advanced on the right and Bartlett's on the left of the 
Orange turnpike, and pressed forward with great spirit, 
driving the enemy for a considerable distance in confu- 
sion. The Confederates soon recovered from their panic, 
and having been strongly reinforced Avere quickly in 
position, not only to withstand the attack of this small 
portion of Warren's Corps, but to take the offensive. 
The fighting now became desperate and bloody, and for 
a time the advantages appeared to be on the side of the 
Confederates ; the Fifth Corps, having lost three thou- 
sand men, was forced back to a new line in the rear of 
the position first held, but somewhat in front of the 
Germania Ford road. 

Before the repulse of the Fifth Corps, General Meade, 
perceiving the disadvantage of a withdrawal from the 
lower or plank road by which HilFs Corps was ad- 
vancing and from which Crawford had been recalled, 
speedily re-occupied the position with Getty's Division 
of the Sixth Corps. This general had orders to hold at 
all hazards the ground covering the junction of the 
Brock and plank roads until the arrival of Hancock. 

At the time the Second Corps had received orders to 
halt, the leading division, as already stated, was beyond 
Todd's Tavern, a distance of ten miles from the position 
held by General Getty. At eleven o'clock Hancock was 
ordered to countermarch at once, and move rapidly up 

20 



22Q HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

the Brock road to^ts intersection with the Orange plank 
road. Our corps had scarcely started on its return before 
the enemy began to bear heavily on the skirmishers of 
Getty, and every moment the pressure increased, render- 
ing it more difficult to hold the grdfind. In the mean 
time Hancock, aware of the importance of securing the 
position defended by Getty's Division, was urging his 
troops forward as rapidly as possible. This spirit of 
the leader was infused into the men, and the latter part 
of the distance Avas made by the Second Division on the 
double-quick. At three o'clock Getty still held his 
position, when the cheers of the Second Corps announced 
their arrival. Hancock formed two lines of battle, one 
on the Brock road and the other a short distance in 
front. The troops on the road commenced^strengthening 
their position with logs, dead trees, and other debris of 
that character, of which there was an endless supply. In 
this forsaken place nature did her own pruning, and the 
trees felled by old time, or branches struck down by the 
rude tempest, were scattered through the forest in every 
direction. 

At this period of the day the relative positions of the 
opposing forces presented an anomaly in the experience 
of the war. Before Hancock, drawn up in line across 
the Orange plank road, was Hill's Corps, prepared to 
dispute any advance towards Parker's Store. Confront- 
ing the Fifth and Sixth Corps on the turnpike was the 
opposing force of Ewell. Between the flanks of the 
contending troops there was no connection, the inter- 
vening space of dense forest preventing any attempt at 
manoeuvring or movements. in line. The operations of 
the afternoon were, for this reason, of the character of 



THE WILDERNESS. 227 

separate actions witlioiit any important bearing on each 
other. 

Our division formed on the Brock road, its riglit flank 
resting near the plank road. The men had scarcely 
arranged a line of temporary breastworks, when the 
order to push the attack on Hill's Corps was given to 
General Getty. At a quarter-past four this division 
moved forward on the right and left of the Orange 
plank road, liaving received orders direct from General 
Meade. Finding that General Getty had met with a 
heavy opposing force, Hancock ordered the divisions of 
Birney and Mott of the Second Corps to reinforce the 
attack. This at once led to desperate fighting at close 
range, the volleys of musketry being continuous and 
deadly. At a little after half-past four the Philadelphia 
Brigade, along with the command of Carroll and the 
Irish Brigade, was sent forward to support the line, and 
soon became hotlv eng-atred. 

In a short time the larger part of the Second Corps 
was involved in this furious struggle. Repeated and 
desperate assaults were made by our forces, which were 
met by the sharp firing of the enemy from his concealed 
positions in the forest. At one time Mott's Division 
became disordered, and Brhgadier-General Alexander 
Hays, while restoring the line with his command, fell 
mortally wounded in the thickest of the fight. 

The Second Cor})s continued its fruitless attempts to 
dislodge the enemy until darkness closed upon the scene. 
The troops lay on their arms upon the Lattle-ground, 
both sides exhausted by the severity of the struggle. 
That night in the Wilderness will never fade from i\\Q 
memory of the survivors. When the noise of battle had 



228 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

entirely ceased, the contending forces, only separated by 
a few paces, were awaiting, like tigers in their lairs, the 
coming of day to spring upon each other; while all 
about the line were the dead and dying of both armies. 
This region of the shadow of death had been literally 
" drenched with fraternal blood/' 

At daylight General Hancock opened the battle by an 
advance of the divisions under Birney and Mott with 
the command of Getty, supported by the brigades of 
Owen and Carroll of Gibbon's Division. The remain- 
ing brigade of the Second Division, under Webb, was at 
this time placed in position, looking to the protection of 
the left flank from an expected attack by Longstreet's 
Corps, known to be on its way to reinforce Lee. 

The advance of Hancock's men was so impetuous that 
the enemy soon began to give ground. This movement 
of the Second Corps was aided by an attack upon the 
Confederate left, made by Wadsworth's Division of the 
Fifth Corps. This division, by command of General 
Warren, had taken up a position the evening before near 
the battle-ground on the turnpike that threatened the 
flank of Hill's Corps. When the attack was begun by 
Hancock a similar movement Avas made by Wadsworth, 
and, although separated bj^a considerable piece of woods 
from the operations of the Second Corps at this hour, 
the diversion no doubt prevented the enemy from con- 
centrating his forces on either flank of his j^osition. 

In one hour after the attack by our forces had com- 
menced the enemy Avere driven, in much confusion and 
with heavy loss, from the immediate front of the Second 
Corps. The brigade in this advance emerged from the 
woods at a small clearing, through which was flowing a 



THE WILDERNESS. 229 

little stream of water, and just beyond this was an ele- 
vation covered with trees. On reaching this creek a halt 
wa.s made by the line of battle for the purpose of re- 
forming and closing up the disordered ranks. Up to 
this hour the loss, especially among the officers, had been 
very severe; and partially on that account, but more 
especially from the nature of the ground and the ob- 
struction of the forest, the line was without formation. 

This cessation in our advance was unfortunate in its 
results, as it gave time to the enemy to receive reinforce- 
ments and to strengthen his lines. When the advance 
was again ordered, a severe fire was encountered from 
the Confederates, who had occupied with a heavy force 
the elevation in our front. For a moment our men were 
confused by this sudden resistance from fresh troops, and 
showed signs of giving ground, but they were soon 
rallied. 

In the effort to re-unite the brigade with the rest of 
the line, General Owen acted with great vigor. In this 
emergency the brigade commander received important 
assistance from regimental, field, and staff officers, and 
especially from his adjutant-general, Captain Robert 
S. Seabury. This young officer, who was a soldier of 
extraordinary gallantry, fell mortally wounded while 
engaged on this duty. At the same moment, and while 
similarly occupied, fell two of the regimental com- 
manders, Lieutenant-Colonel Kochersperger, Seventy- 
First Regiment, severely wounded, and Colonel Baxter, 
shot through the lungs. 

Dispositions were now made to meet the severe attac-k 
of the Confederates, and General Hancock's forces were 
strengthened by Stevenson's Division, of the Sixth Corps, 

20* 



230 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

while Webb's First Brigade, of the Second Division, was 
moved from its position on the Brock road, and quickly 
advanced on either side of the plank road. By eight 
o'clock the fighting had become continuous along the 
entire front of the Second Corps, and was raging at 
some points with great fury. Although both armies 
were suffering heavy losses, neither was able to gain any 
decided advantage. Towards nine o'clock there was an 
almost entire cessation, followed soon after by furious 
assaults that expended their force before anything defi- 
nite was accomplished, and these w^ere followed in turn 
by desultory firing. 

This character of the contest lasted until near the hour 
of noon, and was certainly the most unsatisfactory and 
objectless fighting of any campaign through which we 
had passed. At no one time during the morning, after 
the first charge, could there be seen a body of the enemy 
numbering fifty men, and yet heavy volleys of musketry 
sent the balls flying into and about our ranks. The line 
of fire in response to these attacks was indicated only by 
the direction from which the shots were received. Some- 
times but a few balls would reach us from the front, then 
a sudden discharge w^ould be poured into the flank, and 
a change of front had to be made, only to be repeated in 
some other direction. 

A few moments before twelve o'clock. General Wads- 
worth, whose division had pushed its way during the 
morning until it connected with the First Brigade, which 
formed the right of the Second Corps, rode through the 
woods to the plank road, and began to ascertain the lo- 
cation of the corps Avith a view to concerted action. 

While General Wadsworth was on the edge of the 



THE WILDERNESS. 231 

road, near the line of battle, and engaged in making 
these observations, and before his command was really 
assured of its position, there occurred one of the strangest 
scenes of army experience. Without any apparent cause 
that could be seen from the position of the brigade, the 
troops on our left began to give way, and commenced 
falling back towards the Brock road. Those pressing 
past the left flank of the Second Division did not seem 
to be demoralized in manner, nor did they present the 
appearance of soldiers moving under orders, but rather 
of a throng of armed men who were returning dissatis- 
fied from a muster. Occasionally some fellow, terror- 
stricken, would rush past as if his life depended on speed, 
but by far the larger number acted with the utmost de- 
liberation in their movements. 

In vain were efforts put forth to stop this retrograde 
movement; the men were alike indifferent to commands 
or entreaties. One of the most frightened of the few 
who were really demoralized was seized by an officer, 
but begged that he might not be stopped, saying, " I am 
surely wounded.'' Hoping to recall his pride, the officer 
struck the man across the back with the flat of his sword. 
The frightened fellow, thinking the shock was caused by 
one of the bullets that were flying about, sprang forward 
with terror, crying out, " Now I know I am wounded !" 
The effect was so ludicrous that he was permitted to con- 
tinue his retreat. 

A portion of the Second Division now changed front, 
with its line parallel to the plank road, to meet tliis 
new attack; but the men soon caught tlic infection 
and joined in the retreat, and they were comjielled by 
their temporary delay to move a little faster in order 



232 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

to overtake the rest of the corps and make up for lost 
time. 

The division of Wadsworth, being on the right of the 
plank road, was the last to feel this influence ; but, in 
spite of the most gallant efforts of its commander, it soon 
joined with the other troops in moving to the rear, 
leaving the brave Wadsworth mortally wounded. This 
officer, who died in the hands of the enemy, was a 
gentleman of large means and enthusiastic patriotism, 
and, although somewhat advanced in years, he left his 
luxurious home for the battle-field. His appearance 
and characteristics strongly suggested the memory of 
Colonel E. D. Baker. ' . 

The pressure that had started this withdrawal of Han- 
cock's Corps was soon ascertained to be due to the arrival 
of Longstreet's men, who had commenced to turn our 
left flank. The brigade of Colonel Frank, occupying 
this position, had been overrun by the heavy force of the 
enemy, and the rest of the corps, before they had been 
assaulted, under the influence of the movement, com- 
menced to retire without waiting to ascertain its necessity. 
General Hancock, with his division and brigade com- 
manders, used their utmost to stem the current, but 
without success. No explanation can be given of this 
extraordinary affair, unless it might be that the rank 
and file were desirous of trying to take a new position 
on the Brock road on their own responsibility, instead 
of "hammering continually'^ in the dense woods. 

The line of battle was now formed along the breast- 
works from which our advance had been made the even- 
ing before. The color-sergeants, as they arrived, placed 
their flags on the defenses, while the men, with faces 



THE WILDERNESS. 233 

begrimed with powder, but sliowing no anxiety for the 
result of the coming attack, calmly fell into their places 
and awaited the enemy. 

Soon after, the Confederate line of battle made its 
appearance, and firing commenced ; but the attack was 
without any spirit, and, after a few volleys, the enemy 
drew back a short distance into the woods and halted. 
This sudden suspension of attack, as we afterwards ascer- 
tained, w^as caused by the severe wounding of the leader, 
General Longstreet. 

After this there was a cessation of fighting on Han- 
cock's front for several hours, during which regiments 
were re-formed and the log defenses were increased in 
strength. The lull was broken at four o'clock by a de- 
termined advance of the enemy. A large force pushed 
forward to assault the Second Corps line, but halted 
Avhen within a hundred yards of the defenses, and began 
a continuous fire of musketry. Our men were but little 
exposed, and their position gave them an opportunity to 
repay the severe handling they had received in the early 
morning. Just as the Confederates were beginning to 
fall back from the effect of the volleys they were re- 
ceiving, a circumstance occurred that for the moment 
threw a portion of the Second Corps into confusion. 
The woods on the left of our front caught fire, and the 
flames spread so rapidly that the breastworks were soon 
enveloped, the heat becoming so intense that the men 
were driven from the line. The enemy took advantage 
of this and ])ressed forward to the defenses, a few of 
the leaders advancing beyond them, firing on the trooj)s 
that had fled. This success was of short duration, and 
was soon overcome by a charge of the Second Division, 



234 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

in which the Confederates were rapidly sent back into 
the forest. 

This closed the fighting for the day upon the front of 
the Second Corps, and, with the exception of an attack 
a little later on the right flank of the Sixth Corps, near 
the turnpike, ended the battle of the Wilderness. 

During these terrible battles, fought in the midst of 
dense woods, there was but little opportunity for any 
manoeuvres, except the one indicated by the order, ^^ For- 
ward; attack in line!" The batteries were generally 
parked in the rear of the corps to which they belonged, 
only an occasional section of artillery having an oppor- 
tunity of engaging to advantage in the contest. The 
Confederates made use of one or two guns on the plank 
road, and dropped a few shells among the mass of troops 
during the retreat, but the line of fire was easily avoided, 
and did no great damage. Cavalry were of course en- 
tirely out of the question, and were stationed on the 
flank and rear of the army. 

The Union loss in these actions was estimated to ex- 
ceed fifteen thousand men, while the Confederate casual- 
ties were as heavy in proportion to the number of troops 
engaged. 

The Philadelphia Brigade suffered severely, but the 
actual loss in this, as in other battles of Grant's cam- 
paign, can never be ascertained. Among the officers 
the following casualties were reported, in addition to 
those already mentioned: Captains E.. L. R. Shreeve, 
Seventy-Second, and W. W. Hulser, One Hundred and 
Fifty-Second ISTew York, killed. The following officers 
were wounded : Captains Thomas J. E-orer, John Lock- 
hart, and Robert Stewart, Seventy-Second, and William 



THE WILDERNESS. 235 

M. Smith, Seventy-First; and Lieutenants Frederick 
Coppes, Philip Grey, T. J. Longacre, Seventy-Second ; 
John C. Freeman and Stephen Holden, One Hundred 
and Fifty-Second New York, and William McDaid, 
Seventy-First. * 

Saturday, May 7th, was passed by both armies in 
their intrenched or partly fortified positions, neither of 
them willing to advance, and both anxious to be attacked. 
Early in the day strong skirmish lines were moved for- 
ward for the purpose of discovering the Confederate 
position, but there was no attempt on the part of Grant 
to resume the contest. On the left flank, near Todd's 
Tavern, there was a severe cavalry fight, but without any 
decided success for either force. 

It soon became apparent to the most ordinary observer 
that the position occupied by the Union army must be 
speedily abandoned, but much uncertainty existed among 
the troops as to whether the next move would be for- 
ward or in retreat. While the great mass of veterans 
were lying along their breastworks awaiting orders, 
many of them were occupied in discussing amusing 
theories of action. Some of these men, probably influ- 
enced by memories of the past, suggested that " after the 
results of the past three days,'' some of the previous 
commanders of the Army of the Potomac would have 
decided to recross the Rapidan to their old position, 
grant furloughs to a large number of the men, and, after 
forwarding to Washington extensive requisitions for 
clothing and supplies, await reinforcements before the 
next move. A few of these unauthorized critics also 
thought it equally probable that some of the old com- 
manders would have tried to manoeuvre to avoid a fight 



236 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

under circumstances so unfavorable. The present com- 
mander, although disappointed in his first effort, adhered 
to his original plan of campaign and resolved to continue 
on the same line. During the day the army was ordered 
to be ready at dark to continue the advance and move 
towards Spottsylvania Court-House. 



CHAPTEE XIX. 

SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 

While the army remained in position on the battle- 
field of the AVilderness, the dead lying within the lines 
were buried as well as the nature of the ground and the 
circumstances would permit. At the best, the work was 
very imperfectly done, and hundreds of comrades with 
blankets or shelter-tents for winding-sheets were placed 
in shallow trenches scarcely deep enough to cover their 
remains. There was a large number of bodies lying on 
our front, or between the skirmish lines, that could not 
be reached, and some of these, it is more than probable, 
were thus exposed long after the army had moved away. 

The multitudes of Avounded required the utmost ex- 
ertions of the surgeons and the ambulance corps to 
properly care for them, and to furnish necessary trans- 
portation to the rear. In this work they were materially 
assisted by the Sanitary Commission, under the direction 
of J. Warner Johnson. The first train of ambulances 
was started to the rear, with orders to recross the Rapi- 
dan and move towards the railroad station, near the old 
camping-ground. The recrossing had scarcely commenced 
when the ambulances were fired into by the partisan 
rangers belonging to White's cavalry, and compelled to 
return to the field hospitals near the Wilderness Tavern. 

21 237 



238 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

By this time there was a train of wounded awaiting 
transportation miles in length. After much delay a 
cavalry scout ascertained that the road to Fredericksburg 
was clear, when the Avagons again started with their 
freight of human suffering. On approaching the city 
it was found that the armed citizens, under direction of 
the mayor, were disposed to offer resistance. This was 
soon overcome, and after a short delay a portion of the 
wounded of the Second Division were sent forward to 
Aquia Creek, but without an escort. This risk proved 
unfortunate in its results. The ambulances were again 
attacked, and Lieutenant Bond, adjutant of the Twentieth 
Massachusetts, was killed, and Captain Cooper, of Gen- 
eral Webb's staff, received an additional wound. 

Soldiers act intuitively, and the fate of the wounded, 
and especially the dead, of this campaign, created appre- 
hensions in the minds of many that were not without 
their influence. The ideal soldier of the age of chivalry 
has no successor in the American volunteer. The former 
might have been indifferent to suffering, or might have 
failed to anticipate Christian burial, but the latter is 
strengthened for the conflict by the knowledge that 
sympathizing friends will care for him if wounded, or 
bestow the last rites if he falls in the conflict. 

On the afternoon of May 7th the corps commanders 
received orders preliminary to a movement on Spottsyl- 
vania Court-House. The direct route Avas by the Brock 
road, passing Todd's Tavern. Warren Avas ordered to 
take the advance at half-past eight p.m., and the Second 
Corps to follow closely. The Sixth Corps, under Sedg- 
Avick, Avas to proceed to Chancellorsville at the same 
time as Warren, and there it AA^as to be joined by the 



SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 239 

trains of the two corps, and to move by way of Piney 
Branch cliurch to Spottsylvania. The trains of tlie 
Second Corps were ordered to Chancellorsville to be 
held ready to move at the same hour with other trains, 
by way of the Furnaces, to Todd's Tavern, keeping clear 
of the Brock road, which was to be used by the troops. 

The Fifth Corps began its movement at nine o'clock, 
and, after some delay at Todd's Tavern, it reached a point 
two miles beyond, at three a.m. on the 8th. At this 
point it Avas again detained, this time by the enemy, who 
had placed numerous obstructions on the road. It was 
not until daylight that the opposing force was driven 
away, and the march resumed and continued until the 
corps reached a clearing two miles from Spottsylvania 
Court-House, where a halt was made. 

This place was reached at about eight p.m., and with- 
out encountering any opposition except from dismounted 
cavalry. After forming in line, the leading division of 
Kobinson was ordered to advance tow^ards the woods 
intervening between this cleared place and the court- 
house. When half-w^ay across the field, a heavy fire was 
unexpectedly met, and the line was momentarily thrown 
into confusion, and fell back to the })osition from which 
the advance had been made. Another division of War- 
ren's Corps that moved forward on the riglit of Robin- 
son, simultaneously with him, encountered a similar 
obstacle, and was also compelled to retire. Immediately 
after these movements, attacks were made on both flanks 
of the enemy by Wadsworth's Division, under General 
Cutler, and the Pennsylvania Reserves, Avliich were more 
successful. The positions gained by these flank <)])era- 
tions were held, and the remainder of the cor])s formed 



240 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

in line connecting with them. These positions were 
rapidly strengthened by intrenching. 

The force that AYarren had encountered proved to be 
Longstreet's Corps, which had left its position in the 
Wilderness simultaneously with the Fifth Corps, and, 
having no obstructions to delay its movements, had 
arrived at the point before our troops. This advance 
movement of the Confederates was speedily followed by 
the rest of their army. 

It was near daylight on the 8th when the rear of the 
Fifth Corps had passed our line on the Brock road, and 
the way was clear for a movement. After the arrival of 
the Second Corps at Todd's Tavern it was halted by 
command of General Meade, and a force advanced as a 
defense on the Catharpen road connecting the routes on 
which the two armies were moving. In the afternoon 
the Second Division was detached from the corps and 
sent forward towards Spottsylvania, where it joined the 
Fifth Corps, already reinforced by the arrival of the 
Sixth. On the next day. May 9th, the rest of the corps 
moved forward to this point, thus bringing the entire 
army once more in line of battle confronting the enemy. 

The left of this new line was held by Burnside, con- 
necting oh the right with Sedgwick ; then came Warren, 
the extreme right being held by Hancock. In front of 
the Second Corps was the river Po, a small stream flow- 
ing through a deep valley running nearly eastward from 
our position. 

The morning was taken up in making dispositions, 
and, Avith the exception of the frequent discharge of 
sharji-shooters' rifles, it was comparatively quiet. This 
practice was made use of very extensively in this and 



SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 241 

subsequent campaigns by both armies, often inflicting 
severe losses. Among those who fell tliis clay was 
^lajor-General Sedgwick, whose death was universally 
lamented. This experienced officer, known to the men 
of our division as their first commander in active service, 
and respected for his brave conduct on the battle-field, 
was instantly killed while standing near the breastworks 
of the Sixth Corps. 

During the afternoon of Monday, May 9th, Confed- 
erate wagons could be seen from our position moving 
along the road to Spottsylvania, and the Second Corps 
was directed to cross and endeavor to intercept the train. 
At four o'clock the small picket force of the enemy was 
driven away, and the command commenced crossing the 
river. Before this was completed, night came on and 
the troops bivouacked on its banks. Next morning, the 
10th, a force pushed out towards the point where the 
w^agons had been seen, only to find that the train had 
safely passed to the Confederate rear. 

At ten A.M., May 10th, the divisions of Gibbon and 
Birney recrossed the Po and took up a position on a 
wooded ridge joining the line of the Fifth Corps. The 
last division of the Second Corps, under Barlow, re- 
mained over the Po until two o'clock, when it was also 
ordered to withdraw. Just as the movement began it 
was heavily attacked by the enemy, but met the cliarge 
with so much spirit that the Confederates were kept at 
bay. While this severe contest was at its height, the 
woods in the rear of Barlow^'s men, between them and 
the river, caught fire; and in the midst of the burning 
timbers, and under the volleys of the enemy, who were 
repeatedly driven back, the division recrossed the Po. 

21* 



242 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

In this aifair the loss was severe, and some of the 
wounded who fell in the burning woods perished in the 
flames. In retiring the artillery, one of the guns met 
with an accident while being run down the difficult 
approach to the river, and had to be abandoned. This 
was the first gun ever lost by the Second Corps. 

The position of the enemy confronting our corps, after 
we had recrossed the Po and joined Warren, was the 
strongest point of the Confederate lines. Upon the crest 
of the thickly-wooded elevation of Laurel Hill they had 
formed earthworks, rendered almost inaccessible by an 
abattis of timber and sharpened branches, while the 
approaches were covered with artillery. 

This place ha^ been attacked by portions of the Fifth 
and Sixth Corps about noon, but with no success. At 
three o'clock a movement was ordered for the purpose 
of advancing the line preparatory to a general assault ; 
this also failed. And now at four p.m. a staff-officer 
rode out to our position to say that the whole line would 
charge at five p.m., the signal to be "cheering on the 
left.'' 

At the appointed hour the men moved forward from 
their partially-concealed places in the woods, and the 
moment the line entered the cleared space in front of the 
enemy's position, it met a fierce fire. Some portions of 
the corps advanced to the abattis, others halted part way 
and discharged a few volleys, but speedily the whole line 
fell back with terrible loss. 

About the time of this assault, an attack was made by 
the Sixth Corps on the left, which was more successful, 
Upton's Brigade having carried the first line of the Con- 
federate works and captured nine hundred prisoners and 



SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 243 

several guns. This portion of the line was held until 
dark, when the troops, for want of support, abandoned 
the guns and retired to their original line. 

The failure of the Second and Fifth Corps did not 
deter the general commanding from a renewed attempt 
on the same position. Accordingly, regiments had 
scarcely re-formed before an officer made his appear- 
ance with directions to "repeat the assault at precisely 
six o'clock." In spite of the horrible losses required by 
obedience to this command, there was an approach to 
the ridiculous in the manner of its communication. No 
officer of higher rank than a brigade commander liad 
examined the approaches to the enemy's works on our 
front, and the whole expression of the person who 
brought the message seemed to say, " The general com- 
manding is doubtful of your success." The moment 
the order was given, the messenger put spurs to his 
horse and rode off, lest by some misunderstanding the 
assault should begin before he was safe out of the range 
of the enemy's responsive fire. 

Promptly at the appointed hour the division moved 
out of the woods towards the coveted works. Tlie men 
had weighed the probabilities of success and decided 
that the attempt was hopeless. The advance along the 
line was made without enthusiasm, and it continued only 
a short distance, when a halt was made and firing com- 
menced and continued for a brief period, when the whole 
force fell back as suddenly as before. 

The result of tbis second attempt, although not at- 
tended with as heavy loss, as the first, was more demor- 
alizing. Some of the best troops of the Second Corps, 
the equals of any soldiers that ever carried ariu.s, uut 



244 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

only retired without any real attempt to carry the enemy's 
works, but actually retreated in confusion to a point far 
to the rear of the original line, and remained there until 
nearly night. Brigade staff-officers who were sent to 
recall the scattered troops, found them gathered about 
their regimental flags, quietly preparing coffee and com- 
paring experiences about the movement on Laurel Hill. 
In the two attacks of this day the Second and Fifth 
Corps lost over five thousand men, while it is probable 
that the enemy did not lose one thousand. 

Wednesday, May 11th, the army remained in posi- 
tion without any fighting, except a few small affairs of 
the picket and the usual fusillade of the sharp-shooters. 

At dark, the Second Corps was ordered to prepare for 
moving at a moment's notice. The men were directed 
to arrange their canteens and accoutrements to prevent 
any noise or rattling from indicating to the enemy that 
a movement was in progress. 

At midnight the column started towards the left of the 
army, and at dawn of day reached a position in the rear 
of that occupied by the Sixth Corps, and near the Brown 
House. The distance marched was not over five miles, 
but the progress of the column was rendered difficult and 
slow by the darkness of the night and by obstructions 
in the road. 

A little before five o'clock on Thursday morning, May 
12th, a line of battle was formed by the entire Second 
Corps: Barlow's Division in two lines, each regiment 
doubled on the centre; Birney's Division deployed in 
front of Barlow ; and the divisions of Mott and Gib- 
bon on the right. The distance from the point of for- 
mation to the Confederate w^orks was supposed to be 



SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 245 

three-fourths of a mile, although but little Avas known 
of the exact location. In front of Barlow the ground 
was cleared up to the works, while that to be traversed 
by the Second Division was wooded, with the exception 
of about one hundred yards. 

Immediately after the order to advance was given, the 
troops started at a quick pace and moved forward with- 
out cheering or firing a shot. The point of direction at 
the start could only be known by the compass. An ad- 
vance of half a mile brought Barlow's Division within 
view of the earthworks at a point where they formed 
a salient angle. The line, as deployed, proved to be 
oblique to that of the enemy, bringing Barlow first to 
strike, then Birney, then Mott and Gibbon. 

When Barlow's men came within sight of the Confed- 
erates, they took up the double-quick, and with their 
flags unfurled rushed up to the works, tore away the 
obstructions in front, and, quickly clambering over the 
defenses, sprang among the guns. Birney's Division 
and that of Mott on the right entered the w^orks almost 
at the same time with Barlow. 

The men of Gibbon's Division pressed forward with 
their comrades, and as they emerged from the woods and 
saw in the gray light of the morning what appeared to 
be a line of intrenchments, they raised a loud cheer. 
This unfortunately gave the enemy warning of our ad- 
vance. When the division pushed forward past the 
mistaken line and came in front of the real point of 
attack, it received a severe fire of musketry and artillery. 
Although losing heavily while crossing the space imme- 
diately adjacent to the works, the command never faltered, 
but with renewed cheering carried the intrenchments ou 



246 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

the right of Birney, and met the enemy almost simul- 
taneously with the rest of the corps. 

There was now a hand-to-hand struggle, in which the 
brigade bore its full part, many of its members acting 
with great gallantry. One of the regimental officers, 
Lieutenant Charles Mcl^ally, Sixty-Ninth, after a per- 
sonal encounter, in which he was injured, captured a 
battle-flag. This conflict at close quarters was of short 
duration ; most of the enemy surrendered, while those 
who could escape fled through the woods to the next line 
of defense. 

The result of the Second Corps^ charge was the cap- 
ture of nearly four thousand prisoners, composing almost 
an entire division of EwelFs Corps, with their com- 
mander. General Johnson. Among the trophies were 
eighteen guns and thirty standards. 

The assault was made so quickly after the preliminary 
dispositions that many on both sides were unaware of its 
real character until it was nearly completed. Imme- 
diately in the rear of the division, and following its 
movements, no doubt supposing its advance was only a 
change of position, were some of the officers' servants. 
One of these men was leading an animal laden with pan- 
niers containing the mess supplies for brigade head- 
quarters. When the artillery opened after the first 
cheering, a shell entered the breast of the pack animal, 
and, passing through, lodged in one of the baskets. The 
servant unfastened the halter, and, without stopping to 
grieve over his loss, joined the brigade and entered the 
works. In a short time the enterprising fellow had 
seized a horse belonging to the Confederate batteries, and 
was on his way back to transfer his load. 



SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 247 

Some of the Confederates near the brigade at the time 
the works were entered, cried ont, " Yanks, you have 
got us this time." One man who was rushing towards 
us fell wounded within a few feet of an officer, saying, 
" I am sorry you shot me ; I was coming to take the 
oath of allegiance." Upon being told that we had no 
copy of that document, but could accommodate him with 
a little whisky instead, he replied, ^'That will do as 
well." 

An attempt was made by some of the men to bring 
the captured guns to bear on the retreating enemy, but 
without much success. One patriotic Irishman, who 
was endeavoring to discharge a cannon with its muzzle 
at an elevation of forty-five degrees, was advised to 
depress the gun, but confidently replied, ^^Niver fare: 
it's bound to come down on somebody's head." 

These episodes, with many others, occurred while the 
prisoners were being sent to the rear. In a brief time 
the mass of the corps, elated by their success, began a 
pursuit of the retreating Confederates towards Spottsyl- 
vania. This movement was without order or forma- 
tion, and, after advancing half a mile through the woods, 
the second line of defense was approached, where a heavy 
force was encountered that speedily drove our men back 
towards the works they had captured. 

It now became evident that the point Hancock had 
seized was of the greatest importance to the Confed- 
erates, as its occupation threatened to divide their army, 
and preparations Avere made to resist an attempt at re- 
capture. Arnold's Rhode Island Battery was brought 
to tlie front and placed on the riglit of the line, and at 
the same time other batteries of the corps were put in 



248 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

position near the Landrum House at our rear. At six 
A.M. the Sixth Corps began to arrive, and advanced to 
the earthworks, forming line with the Second Corps. 

These movements were in progress when the enemy- 
approached and opened the contest. The men of the 
Second Corps were in considerable disorder, — officers 
w^ere seeking for their commands, and many of the men 
were gathering about color-sergeants carrying the flags 
of other regiments. In a moment the men rushed up 
to the nearest defense, closed up their ranks, and began 
to return the fire. 

The most sanguinary and deadly fight of this cam- 
paign began at this moment. During the entire day 
and far into the night there was one continuous roll of 
musketry. Repeated charges were made by the enemy, 
only to be as frequently repulsed. Occasionally both 
Union and Confederate flags w^re on the breastworks at 
the same moment, and for the time the concentration of 
fire told with fearful efiect. The most desperate con- 
test was about the salient, and in front of it the sight 
was one of horror. Those killed in the charge at day- 
light lay before the works, while every repulse of the 
Confederates left an increased number, until bodies 
were lying across each other in heaps. The fire was 
so incessant that the dead were repeatedly struck with 
balls from both sides, and the w^ounded in many cases 
perished before the sun went down on the scene of 
blood. 

At dark the assaults of Lee were over, but the firing 
continued from his skirmishers until near midnight. 
The actual loss of the brigade in this fight is unknown. 
In the list of casualties reported were the following 



SPOTTSVLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 249 

officers : Sixty-Xinth llcgiineiit, Captain Thomas Kelly 
and Lieutenant Josiali Jack, killed ; Captain John 
McHugh, Lieutenants Charles McNally and Frederick 
Campbell, wounded. Seventy-First, Captain Mitchell 
Smith, killed. One Hundred and Sixth, Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel William L. Curry, in command, mortally 
wounded, and Lieutenants Charles S. Schwartz and 
Joshua A. Gage, killed. One Hundred and Fifty- 
Second ISTew York, Lieutenant G, W. Thompson, 
Avounded. 

Colonel Curry died at Washington July 7th. He 
had won a good reputation as a faithful and intelligent 
officer, and at diffiirent periods of the service had been 
intrusted Avith the command of a brigade. 

At the time the Second Division encountered the 
eifemy's fire, the loss among officers was very heavy. 
Brevet Major-General Alexander S. Webb, who had 
been transferred from the command of the Second Bri- 
gade to the First, fell in front of the Confederate works 
with a severe wound in the head just before the division 
had gained its success. Besides the One Hundred and 
Sixth there were several regiments of the corps that lost 
their commanding officers, and these casualties for a 
brief time impaired their efficiency. The effect of the 
victory, however, more than compensated for the losses 
sustained, and the entire army received a new impulse 
from the success of the Second Corps. 

Immediately after this affair the following circular 
was ordered to be read to the troops, and, emanating 
from an officer who had won their respect for his soldierly 
qualifications, it had great influence as an incentive for 

future achievements : 

22 



250 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

" Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, 

" May 13th, 1864. 

"Soldiers, — The moment has arrived when your 
commanding general feels authorized to address you in 
terms of congratulation. 

" For eight days and nights, almost without intermis- 
sion, in rain and sunshine, you have been gallantly fight- 
ing a desperate foe in positions naturally strong, and 
rendered doubly so by i n trench men ts. You have com- 
pelled him to abandon his fortifications on the Rapidan, 
to retire, and attempt to stop your onward progress, and 
now he has abandoned the last intrenched position so 
tenaciously held, suffering in all a loss of eighteen 
guns, twenty-two colors, and eight thousand prisoners, 
including two general officers. 

" Your heroic deeds and the noble endurance of fa- 
tigue and privation will ever be memorable. 

" Let us return thanks to God for the mercy thus 
shown us, and ask earnestly for its continuance. 

" Soldiers, your work is not over ; the enemy must be 
pursued, and, if possible, overcome. 

" The courage and fortitude which you have displayed 
render your commanding general confident that your 
future efforts will result in success. While we mourn 
the loss of many gallant comrades, let us remember that 
the enemy must have suffered equal, if not greater, 
losses. We shall soon receive reinforcements which he 
cannot expect. Let us determine, then, to continue 
vigorously the work so well begun, and, under God's 
blessing, in a short time the object of our labors will 
be accomplished. " Geo. G. Meade, 

" Major-General Commanding." 



SPOTTSFLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 251 

The remainder of tlie montli of May was occupied in 
frequent movements, attacks, and skirmishes, involving 
fatio;ue and suifering: that severelv tried the endurance 
and fortitude of the soldiers. 

The following extracts from a field diary, written 
up each day with a lead-pencil, and carried during the 
campaign, will recall an outline of the Second Brigade's 
operations immediately after the battle of Spottsylvania 
Court-House : 

"May 13th, 14th, and 15th. The brigade changed 
position frequently, without any apparent object except 
to obey orders. There Avas little fighting, but con- 
tinued picketing or marching from one point of the 
line to another. At nights we bivouacked on the field 
surrounded by tlie dead, and often drenched with 
rain. 

"Monday, 16th. At four p.m. our division moved 
out to the position abandoned by the Fifth Corps, to 
bring in six hundred wounded men who were left in 
hospital. The empty wagon-train accompanying us 
was filled, and the expedition returned unmolested at 
nine r.M. 

"May 17th. The corps lay back of the Landrum 
House all day. The men were tired and weary. At 
night we were ordered to prepare to retake the works 
captured on the 12th, which had been abandoned to the 
enemy. The night was spent in moving and changing 
positions preparatory to the assault. 

"May 18th. At a quarter of five A.M. the division 
advanced on the Confederates, who held a line in front 
of the old defenses. This assault was unsuccessful ; the 
works were too strong, and the corps, after getting 



252 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

within a few paces of the enemy, fell back, losing con- 
siderably in killed and wounded. Left this front at 
nine p.m. for the Ny River. 

^^ May 19th. At two o'clock a.m., arrived at the JSTy. 
Halted during the day near Anderson's Mills. Part of 
the brigade on picket duty. Ordered to march at 
'eleven p.m. After falling into line the order was coun- 
termanded." 

This movement was delayed in consequence of an 
attack by the enemy during the day on the right of our 
army. EwelPs Corps crossed the Ny above the right 
flank, and, pushing forward to the Fredericksburg road, 
seized an ammunition-train; but was handsomely re- 
pulsed, losing a number killed and wounded, besides 
several hundred prisoners. 

" May 20th. At half-past eleven, started on the road 
to Massaponox church. 

" May 21st. After marching all the preceding night, 
crossed the Mattapony, near Milford, at eleven a.m., 
and formed line of battle. 

^^ May 23d. After remaining in position near the 
river until seven a.m. to-day, started via Chesterfield 
to the North Anna Eiver. Arrived at three p.m., 
and met the skirmishers of the enemy on its north 
side." 

At the time General Grant commenced the flank 
movement to the east and south of Spottsylvania, Gen- 
eral Lee anticipated his course, and at once put his 
forces on the march, by parallel roads, to intercept the 
Union advance. Having the best and most direct route 
from his position at Spottsylvania to the next line of 
defense, the Confederate general was able to anticipate 



SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 253 

Grant's moveiiients, and again intervene between his 
colnmns and Richmond. Upon our arrival near tlie 
point at which the telegraph-road from Fredericksburg 
to Richmond crosses the stream, we found the enemy, 
in large force, prepared to resist the passage. 



22* 



CHAPTER XX. 

NORTH ANNA. 

After leaving Spottsylvania the route of the Second 
Corps lay, for the most part, through a fertile country 
that had not been disturbed by the tread of hostile 
armies. The farm-buildings were generally well con- 
structed, and the mansions, in many instances, Avere 
supplied with the luxuries as well as the comforts of 
life. One of these homesteads, near a position occupied 
by the brigade, gave evidence in its collection of articles 
of vertUy and in its well-supplied wine-cellar, that there 
were in this part of Virginia citizens whose means per- 
mitted the gratification of a cultivated and luxurious 
taste. 

The change of scene from the wilds of Chancellors- 
ville and Spottsylvania to the green fields, and farms 
stocked with sheep and fine cattle, that gave beauty to 
this locality, was gratifying to the soldiers, Avho, it is 
probable, to as great a degree were distasteful to the 
inhabitants. Although the latter were not disturbed in 
their persons, they nevertheless suffered great inconven- 
ience and loss of property from the military operations 
of the Union advance. One of the chief annoyances 
was the destruction caused by the preparation of tempo- 
rary defenses. 
254 



NORTH ANNA. 255 

Experience had impressed on the veterans of both 
armies the great importance of adding to the strength 
of positions by constructing rifle-pits, earthworks, and 
other defenses. The men had so frequently found the 
advantage of these constructions that their erection sel- 
dom needed the order of the commanding general. When 
the enemy Avere in front and an attack was probable, 
rifle-pits were dug as soon as a halt was made, often- 
times before the soldiers had partaken of their hard- 
tack and coflee. To assist in this work the ammunition- 
wagons of each division carried intrenching tools and 
axes ; but in an emergency the men did not await the 
arrival of these implements, using instead their bayonets 
or tools carried by the pioneers, and in advanced posi- 
tions, in the absence of these, even pieces of wood and 
tin-cups were employed to scoop out covers for the 
skirmishers. 

There are numerous monuments of military enter- 
prise still existing in tlie theatre of army o2:>erations, 
and their erection entailed considerable loss, especially 
near the Xorth Anna, where the cultivated land was of 
more value than the Wilderness forests or the Chicka- 
hominy swamps. On one occasion the division formed 
in line of battle on a farm that was under high cultiva- 
tion, and the men worked industriously for hours, until 
a continuous ditch of several feet in depth extended 
through the centre, dividing it into equal sections. To 
strengthen this rifle-pit the log slave-huts and outbuild- 
ings were torn down and laid along the top of the em- 
bankment. The work was scarcely completed when it 
was ascertained that the enemy had clianged liis front, 
rendering it necessary to form a line of defense crossing 



256 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

the first at right angles. As soon as the brigades took 
new positions, work was begun on another rifle-pit of the 
same character. After working for several hours, the 
scouts reported that the enemy had left, and the division 
marched off, leaving the astonished planter in possession 
of a farm literally crossed with ditches. Operations 
of this character were frequently repeated, and these 
field-works, aside from the destruction of buildings and 
valuable fruit-trees cut down for obstructions, often cost 
heavy expense and labor to repair their damages. 

Notwithstanding the peculiar hardships of this cam- 
paign, its continuous fighting, marching, and intrenching, 
the morale of the men was so far wonderfully preserved. 
There was some straggling and skulking, but it was 
principally among the substitutes and drafted men. To 
remedy these evils severe orders were issued, and in 
several cases those found guilty, after trial by drumhead 
courts-martial, were punished with death. As will be 
seen by the following circular, the proceedings in the 
trials by courts-martial were exceedingly brief, and the 
sentences were quickly executed : 

"Headquarters, Second Diyision, 

" May 19th, 1864. 
*' Circular to Courts-Martial. 

"In the trial of stragglers as directed by circular 
orders from headquarters. Second Corps, May 17th, 
1864, the proceedings w'ill be of the most summary 
character, the main point being to establish the guilt of 
the accused. Testimony will be taken as usual, but no 
record need be kept of it. The charge, pleas, finding, 
and sentence, will be duly recorded and signed. 

" The fact that a man is sent back . under guard to 



NORTH ANNA. 257 

Ills regiment after a battle, and is unable to show any 
authority for his absence, ought to be sufficient for his 
conviction ; and it is recommended to courts-martial to 
inflict in every clear case the })enalty of death, in order 
to save life and maintain the efficiency of the army. 

^^JOHN GiBBOX, 

" Brigadier-General Volunteers, 

" Commanding Division.'^ 

One of the cases tried under the instructions of Gen- 
eral Gibbon was that of a young man belonging to the 
First Brigade. He had been convicted and sentenced 
for an infraction of military law previously, but upon 
the urgent solicitation of his mother he had received a 
pardon from President Lincoln. 

The court-martial met on the edge of the woods near 
the headquarters of the division, at three o'clock in the 
afternoon of May 19th. After a brief session, the 
prisoner w^as found guilty, and the report of the trial 
was forAvarded through the usual channels to the head- 
quarters of the army. 

The following abstract of these proceedings will show 
the prompt action taken by the military authorities in 
this and in a number of similar cases : 

"Headquarters, Army or the Potomac, 

"May 19th, 18G4. 
"General Court-Martial Order No. 

" Before a general court-martial, convened in Second 
Division, Second Corps, in pursuance of special orders 
from these headquarters of INIay 19th, 1864, was ar- 
raigned and tried private , on the following charge 

and specifications : 



258 HISTORY OF the Philadelphia brigade. 

"Charge. Deserting the colors of the regiment in the 
face of the enemy. 

"Specification 1st. In this, tliat private did desert 

his post and the colors of his regiment while engaged 
with the enemy in the Wilderness, at or near Chancel- 
lorsville, Virginia, on or about May 7th, 1864. 

" Specification 2d. In this, that the said private 

did desert his colors while the regiment was going into 
action at or near Spottsylvania Court-House, on or 
about the 10th day of May, 1864. To which charge 
and specifications the accused pleaded not guilty. 

" Finding. 1st Specification : not guilty. 2d Specifica- 
tion : guilty. Charge: guilty. Sentence: to be shot to 
death with musketry at such time and place as the com- 
manding general may direct, two-thirds of the members 
concurring therein. 

" The proceedings of the general court-martial in the 
foregoing case having been approved by the proper 
authorities and transmitted to the general commanding, 
the following are the orders thereon. The proceedings 

in the case of private are approved ; the sentence 

will be carried into effect in presence of so much of the 
division to which the prisoner belongs as can be properly 
assembled at seven a.m.. May 20th, 1864, or as soon 
after as practicable. 

"The major-general commanding is determined to 
exercise the utmost rigor of the law in punishing those 
cowards who disgrace their colors by basely deserting 
them in the presence of the enemy. 

" By command of Major-General Meade. 

"S.Williams, A. A. G.'' 



NORTH ANNA. 259 

The behavior of this prisoner at his deatli-scene seemed 
to give a denial to the specifications against him. lie 
walked unsupported in front of the firing party to the 
place aj^pointed for the execution, and stood with his 
back to the grave and his face to the provost guard. 
When the order to fire was given, he exclaimed, — " Oh, 
my poor mother !" and fell, an example of military 
severity. 

AVhether the effect of an execution for an alle<red 
physical or moral Aveakness of this character is beneficial 
to the service, or at least is necessary to the preservation 
of discipline, is a disputed point. As in one instance 
already alluded to in these pages, a soldier may act Avith 
questionable courage on one occasion and redeem himself 
on another. While there are crimes in the army that 
appear to merit death, the failure to perform duties from 
want of courage, however detestable the offense, is one 
that could be held up to scorn very effectually by the 
continued existence of the culprit in some position of 
disgrace, Avhich would at the same time give the offender 
an opportunity to recover his reputation on some future 
occasion. 

At the time the left column under Hancock reached 
the North Anna, the right under Warren struck the 
river about four miles higher up, at a point called 
Jericho Ford. This place was found unoccupied by the 
enemy, and Bartlett's Brigade was ordered to cross at 
once and form a line of battle to cover the building of a 
ponton bridge. The men of this advance plunged into 
the water, and although the ford was waist dee}) and the 
banks (piite precii)it()us, a landing was s])eedily cn'ected. 
In a short time after this the bridge was c()mi)Ieted, and 



260 



HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 



the entire corps crossed at about three p.m., and began 
to intrench a short distance from the river-bank. Late 
in the afternoon and before the defenses were completed, 
a heavy force of the enemy made an attack on the corps. 
This assault was so spirited on the part of the Confed- 
erates that one of Warren's divisions was for a few 
moments thrown into confusion, but the ground lost 
was recovered and the line restored by the gallantry of 
Bartlett's Brigade, and especially by the conduct of the 
Eighty-Third Pennsylvania. Immediately after this 
action, which lasted for an hour, the enemy were repulsed 
at all points and retired into the woods in front, leaving 
one thousand prisoners in the hands of the Fifth Corps. 
The state of affairs at the location the Second Corps 
had selected, as already stated, was of a different char- 
acter from that at AYarren's. In our front we met the 
Confederate skirmishers on the north bank, and found 
that the river could only be reached by driving them 
away, and also by obtaining possession of the earthworks 
that had been erected to defend the bridge. Skirmishers 
were deployed, and after a sharp contest the enemy were 
forced into their works. Artillery was now placed in 
position to cover the movement of Birney's Division, 
which had been selected to make an assault. Just 
before dark the order was given, and the troops rushed 
forward under a heavy fire, captured the works after a 
brief struggle, and the approach to the river was cleared. 
During the night strong picket details were made, and 
all attempts of the enemy to burn the bridge were 
defeated. 

The corps batteries rendered material assistance in 
this affair by engaging those of the enemy, and suffered 



NORTH ANNA. 261 

some loss in the action. This branch of the service was 
sometimes exposed to unusual annoyances in this cam- 
paign from the Indian practice, adopted by the enemy's 
sharp-shooters, of crawling as near as possible to the 
guns and picking oif the men and horses. At one point 
near the brigade a section of artillery was going into 
position, Avhen it was found that it could only be of 
service after our skirmishers had advanced the line. 
Some of the wounded artillerymen were struck with 
barbarous missiles, called explosive bullets. These mes- 
sengers of death were of a conical shape, and contained a 
small copper shell arranged on the principle of a fuse, 
and calculated to explode a short time after it had left 
the rifle. One of these entered the breast of an artillery- 
man belonging to a battery which the brigade was sup- 
porting, and the man had scarcely cried out to a comrade, 
^^ I am shot," before the murderous ball exploded in his 
body, producing terrible laceration. 

On the morning after the assault. May 24th, the Con- 
federates retired from the defenses that confronted the 
bridge on the south bank, to a line resting on the river, 
and extending in an oblique direction towards Hanover 
Junction. The skirmishers of the Second Corps crossed 
early in the day, followed by the entire corps. The 
Philadelphia Brigade passed over at eleven A.M., along 
with the Second Division. After severe skirmishing, 
the corps confronted the new position of the enemy and 
began as usual to intrench. 

At the time Hancock advanced, the Sixth Corps also 
crossed and joined Warren. The Confederate position 
in front of the ridit cohunn of the Fifth and Sixth 

o 

Corps was also formed in a line; ruiming oblique from 

23 



262 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

the river it extended to the Little River, and rested on 
its bank. The position of Lee was formed into a wedge, 
the broad part at the Virginia Central road, which 
tapered towards the North Anna, where it firmly rested, 
effectually separating the tw^o Avings of Grant's forces. 

Burnside's Corps, which had remained on the north 
side of the river, attempted to cross at a point between 
Warren and Hancock, and was repulsed with consider- 
able loss ; at the same time a division of Warren, that 
attempted to move down the river-bank towards Han- 
cock, met a similar fate. 

During the 24th, 25th, and 26th of May, the two 
armies occupied this anomalous position ; General Lee 
being able to S2)eedily concentrate his force wherever the 
line was threatened, while neither wing of Grant's army 
could reinforce the other without making a double pass- 
age of the river. After considerable skirmishing, but 
without any attempt at carrying the Confederate works. 
General Grant resolved to Avithdraw on the night of the 
26th to the north bank of the river. 

This movement Avas executed by the Second Division 
at half-past ten p.m., Avithout disturbance. On the morn- 
ing of Friday, May 27th, at ten o'clock, the corps started 
from the North Anna on another flank movement 
toAvards the left. After marching until nearly mid- 
night,. Ave arrived Avithiu three miles of the Pamunkey 
River and halted. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



COLD HARBOR. 



On May 28tli, at seven a.m., the Second Corps 
crossed the Pamunkey at Hohiies's Ferry, four miles 
above Hanovertown. In this movement from the 
North Anna to the eastward and south our corps had 
covered the rear, and upon crossing the river it joined 
the rest of the army, thus .bringing the entire force over 
the Pamunkey and in connection with a new line of 
supplies at White House. 

With the exception of changing positions, there was 
no movement made by the Second Corps on the 29th. 
It w^as known that Lee had left the south bank of the 
North Anna at the time of Grant^s movement, but the 
new line he had adopted was only surmised. 

To ascertain the position of his army, a concerted 
movement was ordered by each corps. At four a.m. on 
the .30th the Second Corps started on this errand towards 
the Tolopotomoy. The Fifth Corps at the same time 
advanced towards Shady Grove church, and the Nintli 
Corps, under Burnside, was placed in a position to sup- 
port either the Second or Fifth. The Sixth Corps, 
under General Wright, the successor of the lamented 
Sedtrwick, moved around the left flank of Lee's army, 

and succeeded in reaching Hanover Court-House. 

2o;i 



264 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

Hancock and Warren did not meet with the success 
in their movements that attended Wright's Corps. The 
enemy were encountered in heavy force by the Second 
Corps on the south bank of the Tolopotomoy, and EwelFs 
Corps confronted General Warren at Shady Grove. 

The afternoon of our arrival Avas occupied in driving 
the advanced skirmishers into and over the Tolopoto- 
moy. At eight A.M., May 31st, the brigade crossed it, 
and acted with the division in skirmishing throughout 
the entire day. The south bank of the river arose 
gradually for half a mile, and was covered with trees 
and underbrush. This ascent led up to a piece of table- 
land, under cultivation, and was bordered on the south 
wath a forest, on the edge of which the enemv had 
erected strong works, cutting down the trees imme- 
diately in front to form an abattis. 

The place we occupied was almost impracticable for 
the use of artillery, and it was only by bush-fighting 
and an occasional volley that the line was advanced to 
the open field late in the day and the enemy pushed 
into their works. During the following morning, June 
1st, the firing was confined entirely to sharp-shooters, but 
it was very destructive to our pickets, and to the officers 
whose duties compelled them to be exposed. 

Jn front of the brigade and just beyond the skirmish 
line there stood an old building, apparently a school- 
house, that afforded an excellent cover to the Confed- 
erate marksmen, whose shots from its windows and 
crevices interfered materially with the comfort of the 
command. General Owen determined to protect his 
men from this annoyance, and called for volunteers 
from the brigade to destroy the building. A number 



COLD HARBOR. 265 

promptly responded, and with Lieutenant ^IcXally, 
Sixty-Xinth, as a leader, tliese brave fellows rushed for- 
ward in the face of the enemy, quickly gained posses- 
sion, and applied the torch. This work was thoroughly 
performed, but not without loss. Among those who 
were wounded was Denton Lindley, a private soldier of 
Company I, One Hundred and Sixth, who had been 
intrusted with the duty of carrying the burning fagots 
and of kindling the flames, while his comrades kept the 
sharp-shooters at bay with their rifles. 

On the afternoon of June 1st the advanced brigade 
of Warren's Corps on the left near Shady Grov^e church 
was driven back by the enemy. The pursuit, however, 
was effectually checked and the Confederates repulsed 
by General Crawford's division of PennsyK^ania Re- 
serves and the brigade of Kitching. While this fight 
was in progress, and the artillery was booming in the 
distance. Gibbon's Division was ordered to make a 
diversion, and prevent the enemy from sending re- 
inforcements against AYarren, by attacking the force in 
our front. 

The works to be assaulted were of considerable 
strength, and showed eighteen guns in position, cover- 
ing the open space in front. At four p.m. the First and 
Second Brigades moved forward ; the former deployed 
in line of battle on the right, the latter on the left, with 
a heavy line of skirmishers. As the line advanced it 
proved to be at an angle with the Confederate works, 
and in consequence of this the Thirty-Sixth AVisconsin, 
on the right of the First Brigade, struck the enemy 
before the rest of the troops were fairly under fire. 

This was the first assault in which the Wisconsin 

23* 



266 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

regiment took part. The command was led by Colonel 
Haskill, a fine officer, formerly an aid on the staff of 
General Gibbon. The regiment had but recently en- 
tered the service, and had joined Grant's army only a 
few days before arriving at the Tolopotomoy. In this 
charge they confirmed a conviction received from our 
own experience, that new troops frequently assault with 
more vigor than those that have been longer in the 
service. The latter are always more self-possessed under 
fire, far easier manoeuvred in battle, and quickly recover 
from defeat ; but the former are frequently filled with 
such enthusiasm as gives a powerful impetus to an as- 
sault. The moment Gibbon's line, led by his brigade 
commanders, emerged from the woods, the veterans 
began to calculate, as they moved forward, the possibili- 
ties of success, while the Wisconsin men only consid- 
ered how they could get into the works. In either case 
there was no prospect of success, it being apparent as 
soon as we approached the works that the enemy far 
outnumbered the assaulting column. Those of our men 
who succeeded in clambering over the embankments 
found themselves prisoners. The rest of the command, 
deciding the task to be hopeless, halted within a few 
yards of the enemy, and, taking advantage of a slight 
rise in the ground, lay quiet until it was dark, when 
they retired to their original line. As none of our bat- 
teries had crossed the Tolopotomoy at this place, the 
guns of the enemy had undisturbed range, and no doubt 
their gunners enjoyed this "diversion" more than the 
men of Gibbon's Division. The casualties in this as- 
sault were not very large, and were principally among 
the regiments of the First Brigade. 



COLD HARBOR. 267 

A few hours before this attack we had another ex- 
ample of the enterprise and sagacity of some of the 
newspaper correspondents who were Avith the army. 
One of these gentlemen crossed the river in search of 
information, and walked out to a point near the skir- 
mish lines, w^here the brigade officer was stationed. 
After looking at the works in front and giving us a few 
items of news, he was asked if he knew where this cam- 
paign would lead Grant's army. '' Certainly,'' was the 
reply; " no officer has told me, but I know from orders 
I have overheard at army headquarters and from pre- 
paratory movements, especially in the Quartermaster's 
and Subsistence departments, that the army will con- 
tinue swinging around the left until it crosses the James 
River." His surmise proved to be correct, although it 
seemed highly improbable at the time of its announce- 
ment. 

At nine p.m. the division recrossed the Tolopotomoy, 
and, after marching all night, reached Cold Harbor at 
eight A.M., June 2d. This was an exceedingly tiresome 
march, and when the halt was made the men threw 
themselves on the ground, many of them well-nigh ex- 
hausted with fatigue and loss of rest. 

The field at Cold Harbor reminded us of McClcllan's 
battles. On the ground occupied by the brigade were 
strewn sabots and fragments of shells, with an occasional 
haversack and canteen, that told the story of one of the 
deadly conflicts of the Peninsular campaign. 

At the time the Army of the Potomac crossed the 
Rapidan, a considerable force, under General Butler, 
left its position at Yorktown, and, by means of trans- 
ports, ascended the James River, under convoy of gun- 



^QS HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

boats, and effected a landing at City Point and Bermuda 
Hundred. After an attempt to destroy the Petersburg 
and Richmond Railroad, followed by a series of en- 
counters with the Confederates under Beauregard, Gen- 
eral Butler was forced to take up a defensive position 
near his point of debarkation. Intrench men ts were 
constructed, and all attempts at offensive operations were 
abandoned. 

By order of General Grant, a column of sixteen thou- 
sand men was detached from Butler's force, and placed 
under command of General W. F. Smith, with orders 
to join the Army of the Potomac. This was effected by 
descending the James on transports to the York River, 
and thence to White House Landing on the Pamunkey. 
From the latter place it marched to Cold Harbor, where 
it met, on June 1st, the Sixth Corps, already detached 
from the right of the army and moved to this point. 

This movement of the Sixth Corps was anticipated 
by Lee, who withdrew Longstreet from his left, and 
rapidly pushed that corps towards Cold Harbor to pre- 
vent the crossing of the Chickahominy. At four o'clock 
P.M. the combined corps of Smith and Wright assaulted 
the position held by Longstreet, in the rear of Cold 
Harbor, and, after a severe fight, carried the first line, 
capturing several hundred prisoners. An attempt to 
seize the second line of defense failed, and, at night, the 
troops of both forces lay on their arms. The two corps 
lost in this action over two thousand men in killed and 
wounded. 

Upon the arrival of the Second Corps, on the morn- 
ing of June 2d, it was massed in the rear of this posi- 
tion, still firmly held by the Sixth and General Smith's 



COLD HARBOR. 269 

Corps. After a short rest, tlie brigade relieved a portion 
of the line held by General Niel's Division of the Sixth 
Corps. Thronghont the day there was heavy skirmish- 
ing, and both armies Avere actively engaged in prep- 
arations for the battle to control the crossings of the 
Chickahominy, in the vicinity of Cold Harbor. 

The Army of the Potomac was formed in line with 
the Second Corps on the left, the Sixth Corps next, the 
command of General Smith next, with AVarren and 
Bnrnside forming the right. The latter flank rested on 
the Tolopotomoy, while the left extended across the Dis- 
patch Station road. The position of the enemy confront- 
ing this array Avas admirably chosen. The front of the 
earthworks was generally protected by swamps or felled 
timbers, and to defend these fortifications, by the proper 
disposition of troops and batteries, the Confederates had 
taken every advantage of the lessons of war as tanght 
by experience. 

Early in the evening a disagreeable drizzling rain set 
in, and the men who were not on picket duty at the front 
lay on the wet ground, w^ith knapsacks or cartridge-boxes 
for pillows, and with their faces covered with blankets, 
or, in the absence of these, with their caps or with por- 
tions of garments, to prevent the pattering rain from de- 
stroying their rest. In this situation they fell asleep, in 
blissful ignorance of the storm of death to be encountered 
on the morrow. 

At nine p.m. the order reached General Owen that the 
entire army would assault the enemy at half-past four 
the next morning. Regimental commanders were quietly 
notified to have their troops ready to move at the ap- 
pointed time, the signal to be the firing of one gun from 



270 UTSTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

the left. This order was communicated, and all was 
again as still as death, except the sleepless pickets, who 
were in the very front, vigilantly trying to peer through 
the dark shadows of the woods, or listening to catch a 
sound of the least movement from the enemy. 

On Friday, June 3d, at about quarter to five a.m., the 
whole line was in motion and advancing towards the 
formidable positions in front. The Second Corps held 
the left of this line, and of its three divisions Barlow was 
the left, with Gibbon's Division joining on the right, 
while the command of Birney was held as a reserve. 

The four brigades of Gibbon's Division were formed 
in double lines of battle, Tyler's Brigade of heavy artil- 
lery acting as infantry, on the right ; the Philadelphia 
Brigade, under Brigadier-General J. T. Owen, on the 
left ; the Third Brigade holding the centre, and the First 
Brigade, under command of Colonel H. Boyd McKeen, 
Eighty-First Pennsylvania, acting as reserve. 

The formations just described were adhered to for the 
few minutes that passed while the divisions were moving 
to the front from their places of bivouac in the woods. 
The moment the troops began to pass our advanced rifle- 
pits, and encounter the severe fire of the enemy, the 
order, "Forward, to the works'!" took the place of all 
attempts at preserving relative formation in the two 
lines of battle. 

With this command there was a sudden rush along the 
whole line. Barlow's Division on the left met the Con- 
federates in a sunken road in front of the defenses. 
From this they were dislodged after a severe struggle, 
and followed into their first line, which was captured. 
This success lasted but a few minutes, when the rein- 



COLD HARBOR. 271 

forcements of tlie enemy arrived in large numbers, and 
drove the unsupported division of Barlow out of the 
works. 

The Second Division advanced simultaneously with 
BarloW; and^ after passing through some woods, came 
to a swamp that grew wider as we a})proached the 
intrench ments. This separated the commands, and at 
some points interposed an impassable obstacle. The 
brigades of Owen and Tyler advanced close to the 
enemy, and a few of the men entered their works. 
The First Brigade divided at the head of the swamp : 
one portion joined Owen and Tyler ; the other, led by 
the gallant McKeen, passed to the right and reached a 
point within fifty feet of the enemy. Plere they lost 
heavily, and, being unable to advance, sheltered them- 
selves in a hollow, where they remained during the en- 
tire day, resisting all attempts of the enemy to dislodge 
them. 

The Philadelphia Brigade, after enduring for a short 
time a heavy fire from the enemy, were ordered to hold 
a position within seventy-five yards of the Confederate 
works. Taking advantage of the ground, with surpris- 
ing rapidity they protected themselves with a shallow 
rifie-pit, using for the purpose bayonets, knives, and 
tin-cups. At night intrenching tools were received, and 
the line was properly strengthened. 

The actual time that elapsed from the commencement 
of this assault until its failure was not over twenty min- 
utes. In that brief period thousands of the best troops 
of the Army of the Potomac lay dead or dying, while 
a large nund)er more were suffering with painful wounds. 

This charge along the line, everywhere unsuccessful, 



272 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

inflicted a loss of only a few hundreds on the Con- 
federates. 

The casualties in the Second Division numbered over 
sixteen hundred, and the proportion of officers was un- 
precedentedly large. General Tyler, commanding the 
Fourth Brigade, was wounded, and Colonel McKeen, 
leading the First Brigade, was killed. At the close of 
the day the last-named command had neither field or 
staff-officers for duty. All who had filled these positions 
at the time of crossing the Rapidan, or who had suc- 
ceeded those who fell at the AVilderness, were either 
killed, wounded, or missing in action. 

General Owen, who led the Philadelphia Brigade, 
was left with only one or two staff-officers, and with 
junior officers in command of his regiments. Among 
the regimental officers killed were Adjutant William 
Wliildey, Sixty-Ninth, and Captain S. R. Townsend, 
One Hundred and Sixth. Both of these were valuable 
and efficient officers. Captain Frederick Boland, Sev- 
enty-Second, who was among the severely wounded, had 
received a previous wound at Gettysburg. 

After this charge there was a brief period of compar- 
ative quiet, then the sharp-shooters on both sides took 
up the work of destruction. Later in i\\Q day it is re- 
ported that the assault was ordered to be renewed, and, 
although the command came through the usual channels, 
the men refused to stir. An order of this character 
never reached the front of the Second Division, a por- 
tion of which was still holding a position so near the 
enemy that communication with General Gibbon's head- 
quarters could be made only with risk of death. This 
advanced line, within twenty paces of the Confederate 



COLD HARBOR. 273 

works, was held by the men of the First Brigade. Their 
leader, Colonel ]McKeen, lay dead beside them, and with- 
out any officer of rank other than line-officers these braye 
fellows maintained the honor of the Second Corps, and 
refused to yield. Several times during the day attempts 
were made by tlie enemy to dislodge them, and their 
officers could be heard urging their men to '^adyance 
and capture the few hundred Yankees ;'' but each assault 
met a deadly repulse. At dark this little band withdrew 
to a point on a line v/ith the Second Brigade, and a few 
yards to the rear of the place they so brayely defended. 

A little before dark it was evident, from the commo- 
tion among the Confederates in front of the Philadelphia 
Brigade, and of the brigades on the right and left, that 
an assault was in preparation. Soon the commands of 
their officers were heard, then the well-known yell, and 
a rush for our line. Now came our turn, but we had 
not the advantage of strong earthworks. The men rose 
in their places and poured in heavy volleys of musketry, 
and for a few moments there was a struggle as severe 
as in the morning, extending along the entire front of 
Hancock and Wright. It was soon over ; some of the 
Confederates were captured, many lay killed or wounded, 
and the rest of the advance quickly retired to their de- 
fenses. During the night the advanced line held by the 
Union army was strengthened, with a determination of 
maintaining the position already acquired. 

On June 4th, and the days immediately succeeding, 
there was a constant fire along the lines. The least ex- 
posure of the body was attended with wounding or death 
from the fire of sharp-shooters, and almost every day 
closed with an attack or a heavy fusilUide, continuing far 

24 



274 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

into the night. A short distance in the rear of the bri- 
gade line there was a spring of cold water, the approach 
to which was so exposed to the fire of the enemy that it 
could only be reached after dark. During the entire 
night squads of men procured supplies of water for the 
ensuing day. On one occasion a man of the Seventy- 
Second, who had become reckless of danger, gathered a 
dozen canteens, and at mid-day started to the fatal spring 
to fill them. He had scarcely completed his self-imposed 
task when a bullet struck him, and he fell with his head 
in the water, where his body lay until night, w^hen it was 
removed by his comrades. 

The following extracts from the diary of Mr. Joseph 
R. C. Ward, a member of the One Hundred and Sixth, 
will give a good idea of the scenes at Cold Harbor during 
the remainder of the period the brigade occupied this 
line : 

^^June 4th. Engaged all the previous night in the 
erection of breastworks. Ten a.m., a heavy artillery 
fight. At dark the enemy charged our works, but were 
repulsed. 

"June 5th. Very heavy firing all day. Any exposure 
of the person drcAV shots from a dozen rifles. Works so 
close to the enemy we could distinctly hear them talking 
and giving commands. Sharp-shooters continually pick- 
ing off men. Shortly after dark another attempt to cap- 
ture our works. This time the enemy tried to creep up 
in the darkness and use the bayonet. They were allowed 
to get very near, when a few volleys hastened their re- 
treat. 

"June 7th. An armistice granted for two hours to bury 
the dead and carry in the wounded of both sides that lay 



COLD HARBOR. 275 

between the works. A number of the men took advan- 
tage of the o])portunity to get a bath, and some of both 
armies used the same spring at one time. 

"June 8th. Surprised to see the armistice extend over 
this morning. It is a beautiful sight to see tlie flags of 
both armies planted on their intrenchments and the men 
in crowds on the Avorks and in front of them conversing 
together. At eleven a.m. men running for their lines, 
and firing commenced. At twilight another artillery 
fight. 

"June 10th. The Confederates using mortars to-day. 
Several of the brigade wounded, two of them mortally. 

"June 11th. The First and Third Brigades relieved 
from the front this a.m. ; the Second still kept there. 

"June 12th. After dark we took up the line of march 
to the left. The enemy using mortars all the evening, 
to which we replied with brass howitzers. Marching all 
night towards the Chickahominy.^^ 

Before the brigade left Cold Harbor the term of ser- 
vice of the Seventy-First Regiment expired, and the 
command was ordered to Philadelphia to be honorably 
mustered out. Those among the number Avho had re- 
enlisted were assigned to duty with the Sixty-Xinth. 
The transfer brought the effective force of this regiment 
to over three hundred. 

In parting with the men of the Seventy-First, their 
comrades of the other three regiments expressed their 
deep regret, and gave the cordial farewell that springs 
from hearts knit together by common suffering and 
endurance. 



CHAPTEK XXII. 



PETERSBURG. 



The preliminary movements looking to the change 
of base to the James River were commenced soon after 
the battle of Cold Harbor. The right flank of the 
army was contracted, while the left was extended towards 
the lower crossings of the Chickahominy. The advance, 
begun on the night of the 12th, was led by Warren's 
Corps and a division of cavalry. This force seized 
Long Bridge and effected a crossing, when it was fol- 
lowed by the Second Corps. 

At sunrise of the 13th the Second Division arrived 
at Radcliff's Tavern, and, after a short halt, the march 
was continued until the Chickahominy was reached at 
eleven a.m. A position was secured to cover the rear, 
and, after the last of the column had passed over, the 
division crossed and took up the bridge. After march- 
ing until six P.M., the brigade reached Charles City 
Court-House. At this place a temporary halt was 
made, when the column again pushed on, reaching the 
James River, below Harrison's Landing, at night. 

This flank movement across the Peninsula was ac- 
complished in two days by a march of over fifty miles, 
and was perfectly successful. It was one of the finest 
manoeuvres, both in its conception and execution, that 
276 



PETERSBURG. 277 

General Grant had adopted, and the details are exceed- 
ingly interesting. For successful execution it depended 
not only upon the skill employed in planning, but very 
materially upon quick movements performed without 
being observed by the enemy. The duty of masking 
the operations was intrusted to the advance force, under 
General Warren. This officer, after crossing the Chicka- 
hominy, made a feint of advancing on Richmond by 
pushing a division out on the New Market road ; at the 
same time he had another column driving a force of 'the 
enemy across White Oak swamp. AYhile the Second 
Corps was moving towards Charles City and the James 
River, all the routes of approach to the line of march 
were carefully guarded. At daylight of the 13th it was 
known by General Lee that Grant had left his front, 
but it is more than probable that he was ignorant where 
the next blow would fall. 

June 14th, at early dawn, the Second Corps com- 
menced to cross the James, on steamers, from Wilcox 
Landing to Windmill Point. The entire day was spent 
in the effort. During this movement the engineers, 
under General Benham, were engaged in building a 
ponton bridge just below the point of crossing. This 
structure was completed at midnight, and was over two 
thousand feet in length. During the 15tli and part of 
the 16th, the remainder of the army passed over to the 
south side of the river. 

The scene on the arrival at the river, and especially 
during the crossing, was very picturesque. The long 
line of troops, with batteries of artillery followed by 
ammunition-trains and ambulances, with sup[)]y-wag()ns 
and sanitary stores, recalled similar scenes in this vicin- 

24* 



278 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

ity two years before. The similarity did not extend, 
however, to the morale or physical appearance of the 
men. At the former period they were discouraged and 
depressed after a campaign without apparent result, and 
prostrated in body from the effects of the Chickahominy 
swamps. Now the troops appeared cheerful and full of 
hope for the future, giving evidence, in their bronzed 
faces flushed with health and in their firm step, of ability 
to make still greater sacrifices. 

While looking on this bright picture, many in the 
brigade could not refrain from calling to mind com- 
rades who were present then and absent now. Sumner 
and Sedgwick had passed away; Burns was trans- 
ferred to the Western army; every officer that had led 
the regiments in the Peninsular campaign was dead or 
disabled ; and there was scarcely a company in charge 
of its original officer. Soldiers who had entered the 
brigade as privates or non-commissioned officers had 
been promoted until they filled the vacant places of 
company officers, and in one instance that of regimental 
commander. 

The sad thoughts brought to mind by the comparison 
of the brigade to-day with its condition two years ago 
were overshadowed by more recent events. Over one- 
half the command had fallen in battle since the Rapidan 
was crossed on May 4th, and the same proportion of 
losses extended to the entire army. In spite of these 
losses there was the feeling that the time could not be 
long deferred when the good cause would triumph, and 
the "government of the people'^ extend throughout the 
land. 

With these sentiments of patriotism, the fighting 



PE TERSB URG. 279 

corps of Hancock took up the march, on June 15th, 
towards Petersburg. 

While the army was making its flank movement to 
the river, the corps of General W. F. Smith was re- 
turned to General Butler at Bermuda Hundred. The 
route was similar to the one adopted on reaching Cold 
Harbor : to AYhite House, and from thence by transports. 
Upon its arrival on the 14th, General Butler ordered an 
assault on Petersburg, the seizure of which was of the 
greatest importance to the future operations of the army. 
The column of attack was formed by a division of cav- 
alry and by General Hink's command of colored troops, 
co-operating with Smithes Corps. The Appomattox was 
crossed on the night of the 14th, and on the morning of 
the 15th the force pushed on towards the city. After 
arriving in front of the works defending the place, con- 
siderable time was spent in reconnoitering, and no assault 
was made until seven p.m. At this hour strong lines of 
skirmishers advanced from each of the three divisions 
and carried the outer works, capturing a few hundred 
prisoners and several guns. Night now set in, and the 
troops held these captured works preparatory to further 
successes on the morrow. 

The last of the Second Corps had crossed the James 
on June 15th, the day of Smith's assault. At ten a.m. 
the column started from Windmill Point ; Birney's and 
Gibbon's Divisions moving on the Prince George road, 
and Barlow's on the old Court-House road. While on 
the march, at half-past five P.^r. an order was received 
from General Grant to join Smith in front of Peters- 
burg. The place was reached after the attack was over, 
and operations were suspended for the night. CJibbon's 



280 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

Division was moved to the front, and it relieved Hink's 
colored troops, then in possession of the redoubt, which 
they had handsomely carried a few hoars before. 

After Grant had left the Chickahominy the Confed- 
erates retired on Richmond, doubtful where the next 
attack would be made. This uncertainty did not con- 
tinue Ions:, and as soon as General Lee ascertained the 
character of the movement on Petersburg he lost no 
time, but commenced at once to urge his troops forward 
to defend the threatened point. During the night the 
Confederate advance began to arrive in front of the- 
works, that had been assaulted by the corps of General 
AV. F. Smith, and a part of which was now held by the 
Second Division of Hancock's Corps. As fast as the 
troops of the enemy arrived they began to intrench, and 
at daylight a new line of works, connecting with those 
portions of the original line held at dark, confronted the 
Union advance. 

After a brief interval the two armies were brought 
face to face in an entirely new locality, to grapple once 
more in a death-struggle. As if preparatory to the end, 
there was on the part of the Second Corps a series of 
assaults at intervals of a few hours. The renewal of 
the old tactics of '^hammering continuously" lasted over 
one week, Avhen circumstances changed this mode of 
warfare and inflicted a great disaster on the Second Di- 
vision of Hancock's Corps, and especially on the Phila- 
delphia Brigade. The annexed entries from a journal 
will show the character of these operations, although 
they will give but a faint conception of the severity of 
the work and the conditions under which it was per- 
formed. 



PETERSB URG. 28 1 

Few of tlie soldiers who were present at the affair 
near Munson's Hill, or who witnessed the first battle in 
which the brigade was engaged, will fail to remember 
the impression produced by the sight, for the first time, 
of comrades dead on the field. Frequent repetitions of 
similar scenes wrought great changes in the tender sym- 
pathies of the men. While they still felt true sorrow 
at the death of comrades, they became indifferent to the 
terrible scenes of a battle-field. Early in the war every 
little skirmish or minor action was made the subject of 
special report or record ; now, only a few lines seemed 
necessary to recite actions of far greater magnitude, and 
the brief entry, "the corps lost heavily,'^ is made to 
cover the loss of hundreds of brave men. Truly an 
active warfare of three years had caused the veterans to 

realize 

" That war or peace may be 
As things acquainted and familiar to us." 

In the absence of Generals Grant and Meade, the 
forces in front of Petersburg were under the command 
of General Hancock. This officer, realizing the impor- 
tance of prompt movements, gave orders, during the 
night of the 15th, to Birney and Gibbon to carry the 
works in their front " at or before daylight" the follow- 
ing morning. 

"June 16th. The day was ushered in by heavy skir- 
mishing. At an early hour the skirmishers of the di- 
vision advanced on those of the enemy and drove them 
into their works. At six a.m. an assault was attempted 
by the entire command. This advance was made with 
considerable spirit, but, except the ca])ture of a small 
redoubt by Egan's Brigade of Birney's Corps, and a 



282 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

trifling extension of the line, it produced no valuable 
result. The line as advanced Avas immediately strength- 
ened by intrenchments, although the work was much 
impeded by a severe fire of musketry during the re- 
mainder of the day. At four p.m. another assault was 
ordered to be made by the Second Corps, supported by 
Burnside's troops, which had arrived at noon. This 
attack was made with great vigor, and resulted in a fur- 
ther and general advancement of the whole line. 

"On the 17th there was a renewed assault by the two 
corps, in which Hancock gained an important elevation 
known as Hare's Hill, on which Fort Steadman was 
afterwards erected. Later in the day there was an- 
other attack by Burnside, in which Barlow's Division 
of the Second Corps participated and lost heavily. 

"June 18th. The whole force Avas ordered under 
arms at two a.m. An attack was to be made at day- 
lisrht alono^ the entire front. After a severe cannonade, 
lasting half an hour, the advance was made at six a.m., 
when it was found that the enemy had abandoned his 
temporary line and taken up another near Petersburg. 
New dispositions were now made, and at noon Gibbon's 
Division again assaulted, but w^as unsuccessful. After 
resting a few hours the whole of the Second Corps 
charged at six p.m., and were again unsuccessful in gain- 
ing ground. This made the third charge for this event- 
ful day, and it was attended with severe casualties. 

"June 20th. The Second Division was relieved by a 
division of the Sixth Corps under General Neill. 

"June 21st. The Second and Sixth Corps were 
marched to the left to effect a closer envelopment of Pe- 
tersburg on that flank. After moving about three miles 



PE TERSB URG. 283 

the Second Corps formed line witli the riglit resting on 
the Jerusalem plank road^ which runs southward from 
Petersburg. At this point breastworks were thrown up 
in the midst of a heavy skirmish fire, which continued 
the entire day. On the east side of the plank road a 
connection was made with Griffin's Division of the Fifth 
Corps. During the night the Sixth Corps arrived and 
formed line to the left and rear of the Second. 

"June 22d. Continued skirmishing all the morning, 
which became very heavy at -three o'clock p.m. on the 
left." 

At the point of time referred to in this diary, the Sec- 
ond Corps was under the command of General Birney, 
in the absence of General Hancock, who was in the field- 
hospital suffering from the effects of a wound received 
at Gettysburg. The remaining regiments of the Phila- 
delphia Brigade had been assigned to the command of 
Colonel John Frazer, of the One Hundred and Fortieth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers. 

At the time the heavy firing was heard on the left of 
the division, General Birney, in obedience to instruc- 
tions, was advancing the left of his line, so as tp inclose 
the right flank of the Confederates. This movement of 
the corps was intended to be a right half-wheel, the i)ivot 
of which was i\\Q Second Division. The latter command 
was immediately in front of the enemy, whose intrcnch- 
ments were on an elevation, only separated by a tliiu 
strip of woods from Gibbon's line. 

In executing this order the divisions of Barlow and 
Mott on the left moved forward, without reference to tiie 
Sixth Corps, and made, as they advanced, an increasing 
gap between that corps and the Second. The movement 



284 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

was closely observed by the enemy, and they were quick 
to take advantage of this false position. 

The division of Mott, which joined the Second Divi- 
sion on the left, wheeled into its place on the new align- 
ment, and began to strengthen its position. Barlow's 
Division, at the same time, was executing its part of the 
manoeuvre, when Hill's Corps, in column of brigades, 
pushed through the interval between the Sixth and 
Second Corps, and commenced a fierce attack, especially 
upon the latter. Barlow's Division was the first to feel 
the shock, and fell back in disorder, losing many pris^ 
oners. The division of Mott, on the left of Gibbon, 
retired almost as rapidly as Birney, leaving the left of 
the Second Division entirely exposed. 

While this flanking operation was m progress on the 
left, the Confederates made several direct attacks on Gib- 
bon's front. The last of these had just been repulsed, 
with considerable loss to the enemy, when the brigade 
received a volley from the left and rear. The surprise 
was perfect, and the Confederates, pushing forward, cut 
off the retreat of a large number of the division, and 
captured several regiments, almost entire, along with 
McKnight's battery of four guns. 

The relative positions of the regiments in line, in this 
inglorious affair, were, beginning at the left, the One 
Hundred and Sixth, Sixty-Ninth, Seventy-Second. The 
One Hundred and Sixth was struck first, and was almost 
entirely captured, only one officer and twenty-eight men 
escaping. John Houghton, the color-sergeant, had 
scarcely time, after the enemy were seen, to tear the flag 
from the staff and conceal it in his bosom, before he was 
seized by a Confederate officer. Adjutant West, of the 



PETERSBURG. 285 

Seventy-Second, with the color-sergeant of that regiment, 
bronglit away its colors ; and the Sixty-Ninth was eqnally 
fortunate in retaining its flag. The officers and men who 
escaped capture did so at the risk of their lives, by re- 
treating along the front of the enemy, which they had 
faced during the entire day. The division lost in this 
affair seventeen hundred men, mostly prisoners. 

This action on the Jerusalem plank road was the last 
in which the Philadelphia Brigade took part. In the 
beginning of the fight the position of affairs was very 
similar to that which threatened serious consequences, 
for a few moments, at the battle of Antietam. Between 
the two actions, hoAvever, there was this great difference : 
the apparent absence of skillful and efficient officers in 
the former, and the presence of ^^ Old Sumner" and his 
subordinates at the latter. 

The responsibility for this disaster ought not to be 
laid entirely upon the officers, as the condition of the 
men, for reasons already referred to, temporarily unfitted 
them, not only for making successful assaults, but also 
for presenting a vigorous defense when suddenly assailed. 
This want of esprit de corps was well described in an 
article published in the "Army and Navy Journal," 
about this period. As corroborative evidence in a matter 
liable to be misunderstood, the following extensive ex- 
tracts will be read with interest : 

" The medical and commissary department had been 
well conducted, but it is not too much to say that the 
troops were thoroughly worn out. While their sj^irit 
and enthusiasm were, and always have been, beyond all 
praise, the fatigue of so extraordinary a campaign had 
been overpowering. Officers experienced its effects as 

26 



286 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

well as men. Their conspicuous bravery had stretched 
out, dead or wounded, commissioned officers of all grades, 
not by hundreds, but by thousands, before the James 
River was crossed. The eifect was apparent in some want 
of skill and experience in succeeding battles. Captains 
were sometimes commanding regiments, and majors bri- 
gades. The men, missing the familiar forms and voices 
that had led them to the charge, would complain that 
they had not their old officers to follow. On the other 
hand, more than one leader of a storming party was 
forced to say, as he came back from an unsuccessful at- 
tempt upon the works at Petersburg, ^ My men do not 
charge as they did thirty days ago.' A few commanders, 
too, showed the fatiguing effects of the campaign by lack 
of health, by a lack of unity and harmony, or of alertness 
and skill. The last attacks on Petersburg showed clearly 
how the campaign was telling on men and officers, and 
the two achievements on the Jerusalem plank road of the 
22d and 23d of June put the matter beyond all doubt. 
On the former occasion the gallant Second Corps, whose 
reputation is unexcelled, fell back, division after division, 
from the enemy^s onset, and one of the very finest bri- 
gades in the whole army was captured, with hardly a 
shot fired. In our account at that time, the probable 
cause of the disaster was intimated. But when, in addi- 
tion to this, the Vermont Brigade of the Sixth Corps 
was badly cut up the following day, it became clear that 
the rapidity of the fighting must be checked awhile. 
The pace was now too great. These affairs of the 22d 
and 23d of June were, for a considerable period, the last 
offensive movements of infantry in force.'' 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

HONORABLY DISCHARGED. 

After the battle on the Jerusalem plank road, June 
22dj the remnant of the Philadelphia Brigade Avas 
relieved from duty at the front and marched some dis- 
tance on the road towards Prince George Court-House, 
where a picket line was established to protect the trains 
from incursions by the Confederate cavalry. The short 
time remaining before the expiration of the term of 
service of the men who had not re-enlisted was spent in 
this and other similar duties. 

On the 20th of July, 1864, the brigade was disbanded, 
and the recruits who had arrived since its date of muster, 
together with the re-enlisted veterans, were transferred 
to the Sixty-Ninth and the One Hundred and Eighty- 
Third Pennsylvania Volunteers. The last regiment was 
under the command of Colonel James C. Lynch, who 
had served three years as an officer of the One Hundred 
and Sixth, and for gallantry had been promoted to his 
present position. His command was in a good state of 
discipline, and acquitted itself creditably during the 
remainder of the Avar. The majority of transfers from 
the Seventy-Second were made to Colonel Eynch's regi- 
ment, while those from the One Hundred and Sixth 

and Seventy-First were assigned to the Sixty-Ninth. 

287 



288 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

These recent transfers^ together with those convales- 
cent from wounds who had returned for duty, made the 
Sixty-Ninth re-enlisted regiment number about three 
hundred men. Colonel William Davis was placed in 
command, and continued with the regiment until he 
received a wound in action, when he was succeeded by 
Major Tinen. The Sixty-Ninth remained with the Army 
of the Potomac until the surrender of Lee at Appo- 
mattox. It was present in the assaults made upon the 
enemy during the summer and fall of 1864, and partici- 
pated in all the movements of the final campaign of the 
following spring. At the close of the rebellion the regi- 
ment was in the column reviewed by General Halleck 
at Eichmond, and a few weeks later took part in the 
grand review of the entire army at Washington. Upon 
its final muster out at Philadelphia on July 1st, 1865, 
it returned to tlie authorities the State flag, along with 
the Irish colors, that had been carried upon many a 
battle-field and never disgraced. From the fact that 
the Sixty-Ninth was the only regiment of the brigade 
that re-enlisted as an entire organization, the old com- 
rades of the other regiments took a special interest in its 
subsequent campaign and gave it a hearty welcome upon 
its return home. 

The men of the Seventy-First Regiment, having com- 
pleted their term of service at Cold Harbor, were returned 
to Philadelphia. The command was welcomed by the 
officers of the city government, and was tendered the 
honor of a public reception. It was mustered out of the 
service on the 2d of July, 1864. The Seventy-First 
had experienced what military critics would consider 
a great disadvantage, a frequent change of regimental 



HONORABLY DISCHARGED. 289 

officers. Colonels Baker, Wistar, Parrish, Markoe, and 
others, had in turn commanded the regiment; and during 
the last campaign and at the final muster out it was 
under command of Colonel R. Penn Smith, who had 
been promoted from adjutant. Notwithstanding these 
changes the organization continued throughout its service 
well disciplined, and on several occasions its bearing in 
action won special mention from brigade commanders. 

It is more difficult to ascertain the number of casual- 
ties in the Seventy-First and Seventy-Second Regiments 
than in either of the others, from the fact that each of 
these commands was originally composed of fifteen com- 
panies. When they were consolidated to the regulation 
number of ten companies, the old records were not pre- 
served, and the names of many who were killed or 
w^ounded have been omitted from subsequent reports. 
The Seventy-First contained within its organization over 
twenty- two hundred men, and at its final muster out 
there were but one hundred and fifty-three present. 
The number reported as killed in battle or as having 
died in the service amounts to nearly three hundred. 
To them must be added the still larger list of those 
missing in action, and of those who were captured by 
the enemy and subsequently died of wounds and are not 
rej^orted. 

The Seventy-Second Regiment was relieved from duty 
near Petersburg on July 20th, 1864, and it proceeded by 
transports to Alexandria. For a short period it was 
encamped at the scene of its first exploits, Fort Ethan 
Allen, near Chain Bridge. On August lltli it was 
received in Phi]adel])hia by the entire Fire Department 
and escorted through the city to Independence Hall, 

25* 



290 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

where the men were tendered the hospitalities of the 
city by the mayor and other officials. 

The handsome flag, " Presented to the Fire Zouaves 
by the Fire Department of Philadelphia/' had long since 
been torn to fragments by hostile bullets and the rough 
service it had encountered. The silken remnants of this 
standard, with the staff shattered by a ball at Gettysburg, 
were returned with honor to the place from which they 
had been proudly borne. The stand of colors presented 
by the State of Pennsylvania before the Wilderness 
campaign was carried until the term of service expired, 
and after the muster out on August 24th, 1864, it was 
sent to the capitol at Harrisburg. 

This regiment lost but one field-officer, the lamented 
Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Hesser, an impulsive and 
brave leader. Colonel Baxter participated in every 
action in which the regiment was engaged until he was 
severely wounded at the Wilderness. 

The One Hundred and Sixth suffered by far the 
heaviest proportionate casualties in the final affair on the 
Jerusalem road. In the loss of its flag, there w^as a 
coincidence between the first action in which the brigade 
was represented and the last. At BalFs Bluff it will be 
remembered that the California Regiment lost its flag, 
while the rest of the brigade was not under fire and 
suffered no loss. At Petersburg the California Battalion 
was absent, and the remaining regiments suffered heavily 
besides losing a standard. The men of the One Hun- 
dred and Sixth, whose term of service expired at the end 
of three years, were mustered out at Philadelphia on the 
10th of September, 1864. 

With the discharge of these men the services of the 



HONORABLY DISCHARGED. 291 

Philadelphia Brigade as an organization ended, and 
nothing remained but the remembrance of its deeds and 
the sad memories of the comrades who had fallen. The 
names of the brave men who met their death in battle, 
or who were stricken with disease in the swamps of the 
Chickahominy or in the dreary marches and camps of 
Virginia, or who died of starvation in rebel prisons, 
number one-fourth of the entire command. 

The record of those who died on the field of honor, 
or of wounds or disease while in the service, reminds us 
of the fearful mistake at Munson's Hill, the slaughter 
at Ball's BlufF, the dead at Battery Number Eight, York- 
town, those who fell at Fair Oaks and on the picket line 
at Garnett's Farm, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, Glen- 
dale, and Malvern Hill ; of those who died of wounds 
or fever and were buried at Harrison's Landing, or were 
struck down at Second Bull Run or Antietam ; it re- 
minds us of the skirmish in Fredericksburg, and the 
charge on Marye's Heights, and of the roll of dead still 
further increased by the battles of Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg, Mine Eun, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, 
Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. 

The scenes thus revived, although associated with sad- 
ness at the loss of comrades, cannot be reviewed without 
the proud consciousness that the command, u])on every 
occasion, did its whole duty, and, as an organization, re- 
flected honor upon the city whose name it bore and the 
cause for which it fought. 

The brigade was fortunate during most of its service 
in being commanded by able general officers. In the 
occasional absence of the commander, a field-officer 
would assume his position, laboring under thedisadvan- 



292 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

tage frequently which want of acquaintance with those 
under him inflicted ; but the majority of these temporary 
commanders had no cause to complain of want of sup- 
port, or promptness in obeying orders. The effective- 
ness of a brigade, however, is not derived entirely from 
the character of its commander or of its regimental field- 
oflficers, important as those positions may be considered. 
A thoroughly competent brigadier may be disgraced in 
action through ill-disciplined troops or incompetent 
line-officers. After the chief of an army has brought 
his forces in close proximity to the enemy, questions of 
logistics and strategy give place temporarily to those of 
discipline and endurance. The utmost skill may have 
been displayed in moving the columns to a favorable 
point for attack, and yet failure may occur when success 
was possible, because the troops were led by incompetent 
line-officers. 

Soldiers about their camp-fires frequently canvassed 
the relative merits of the officers who were educated at 
West Point and of those who entered the service from 
civil life. Without entering into a discussion of this 
subject, which has been considered from a variety of 
stand-points, it is safe to make the assertion that large 
numbers of civilians who accepted commissions proved 
themselves, after a few months' experience and study, 
fully equal to the duties they assumed. It is also proper 
to say that to the system of military instruction pursued at 
West Point the volunteer officers were largely indebted. 
The graduates of the military school were the competent 
instructors of those who were inexperienced in the duties 
of a soldier, whether that instruction was imparted by 
personal example or came through military text-books. 



HONORABLY DISCHARGED. 293 

In some of the brigades there were examining boards 
regularly convened, for the purpose of determining the 
fitness of such officers as were ordered to report before 
them. Where this system was properly enforced, it 
worked advantageously in two ways. First, it gave an 
opportunity to get rid of incompetents legally; and 
secondly, it indirectly promoted the efficiency of many 
of the officers by a sort of compulsory study and a])pl ica- 
tion. Unfortunately, the action of these boards was im- 
paired occasionally by bringing political influence to bear 
on them to make them reverse their decisions. There 
were several officers of the Second Corps, who, after l)e- 
ing discharged upon the recommendation of these boards, 
were speedily recommissioned by the Governor of the 
State from which their regiment had enlisted. One col- 
onel of a New York regiment, who was twice dismissed 
the service, returned each time with a new commission. 

Next in importance to the preparation of commis- 
sioned officers, is the proper instruction of the sergeants 
and corporals, or, as they are called by the regulations, 
non-commissioned officers. In the brigade there were, 
at times, systems of drill and instruction, especially in- 
tended for the improvement of these soldiers, and many 
of them became very efficient in drill and in the per- 
formance of their duties. 

The majority of the enlisted men of the Second Bri- 
gade were citizens of Philadelphia, either by birth or 
residence, and, as such, it was interesting to compare their 
ability to endure the fatigues of campaigning with their 
comrades from country districts. The Second Division 
contained regiments representing the lumber region of 
Maine and the farming districts of the Middle and 



294 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE. 

Western States. Observation, based on an experience of 
over three years of active service, favors the opinion that, 
circumstances being equal, the men of light physique, 
used to the habits of city life, can endure more continu- 
ous hardships and fatigue than men from rural districts. 
On the other hand, it must be said in favor of the latter 
that they are more quickly susceptible to the influence 
of proper discipline, and that they more readily obey 
orders. 

The victories of the Army of the Potomac, however, 
were not won by soldiers chiefly from either town or. 
country, nor by citizens of the East or of the West, but by 
men from all classes in each loyal State ; and its battle- 
fields were stained with the blood of patriots from all 
sections of the North. Its legions sprung into existence 
at the first call of duty, and their battle-flags were held 
aloft until the final triumph. The glory of this army 
was in the fact that it successfully met and overcame the 
most powerful army of the rebellion. 

The deeds of this magnificent force have passed into 
history, and the men of its brigades no longer contend 
against brothers in a fratricidal strife, but are peaceful 
citizens of a united country. To have formed part of 
this history, and borne a full proportion of the suffering 
and privation through which the victories were won, was 
the honor of the Philadelphia Brigade. 



EOLL OF DEAD. 



SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 



Name. 



Amon, James 
Allen, Nathan 
Attmoro, Isaac 
Allen, John 
Aslier, Asher 
Bushill, Edw. 
Bevonstead, Fred'k 

Berry, Jolin 
Bradley, Hugh 
Bierwirth. B. F. 
Brannon, John 
Bell, Joseph R. 
Brush, Richard 
Burke, John 

Boyle, Jerem'h W. 
Burns, Wm. G. 

Boyle, John F, 
Branigan, Jas. 

Blake, Emanuel 
Crowley, Daniel 

Coyne, Michael 

Compton, Franklin 
Cassidny, Patrick 
Coogan, Wm. 

Costello, James, 2d 
ConniM', Beriiaid 
Carnphell, John, 2d 
CafTery, John 
Causey, .)(;lin 
Cumniings, Henry 



Rank. 


Co. 
A 


Private 


t( 


A 


" 


H 


(( 


H 


« 


I 


Serg't 


A 


Private 


A 


(( 


A 


(1 


D 


Cap't 


G 


Private 


G 


M 


G 


(( 


G 


" 


G 


Serg't 


II 


" 


11 


Private 


I 


(( 


I 


u 


K 


" 


A 


Serg't 


B 


Private 


B 


" 


B 


Serg't 


C 


: Private 


C 


1 (( 


C 


" 


(; 


« 


I) 


Serg't 


E 


Private 


K 



Remarks. 



Died at Point Lookout, Md., Aug. 20, 1862. 

Died at Beverly, N. J., Oct. 14, 18(54. 

Died at Florence, S. C, Sept. G, 1^04. 

Kill, d at Wilderness, Va , May 6, 1S64. 

Killed near Richmond, Va., June 19, 1862. 

Died at Alexandria, Va., Nov. 7, 1864. 

Died Aug. 6, of wounds received at Gettysburg, 
Pa., July 3, 18C.3. 

Killed near Petersburg, Va., June 16, 1864. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July :{, 1863. 

Killed at Antietam, Mil., Sept". 17, 1862. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va , Dec. U, 1862. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. VA, 1862. 

Died at Annapolis, Md., Sept. 15, 1864. 

Died Sept. 14, of wounds received at Peters- 
burg. Va., June 22, 1864. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July .3, 186.3. 

Died Dec. 2'-\, of wounds received at Fredericks- 
burg, Va., Dec. 1:5. 1862. 

Killed at Getty.^burg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died .June 14, 1864. of wounds received at Cold 
Haibor, Va., June 3. is.64. 

Died at Andersonville, G;t., Aug. 30, 1864. 

Accidentally killed near German town. Pa., Doc. 
1,1863. 

Died at Frederick, Md., Sept. 30, 1862, of wounds 
received in action. 

Died at Andersonville, Ga., Dec. 10, 1864. 

Died at Washington, D. C, Jan. 4, 1863. 

Died of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., 
July 3, 1863. 

Died at liolivar Heights, Va.,Oct. 17, 1862. 

Kilbd at Frcib'ricksliurg. Va., Dec. 12, 1862. 

Killed at I'ctcr-iiurg, Va., June 22, 1864. 

Killed at Fn-di rbUsburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1SG2. 

Killed at Cold Ibirbor, Va., June 3, 1864. 

Died at Philadelphia. Date unknown. 



295 



296 ROLL OF DEAD. 

Roll of Dead, Sixty-Ninth Regiment. — Continued. 



Name. 


R.VNK. 


Co 


Carr, Thomas 


Private 


F 


Condon, Patrick 


Serg't 


F 


Clark, Edw. 


Private 


F 


Campbell, Wm. 




¥ 


Collins, James 


cc 


G 


Carr, Bernard 


" 


G 


Clay, James 


" 


G 


Coyle, James 


u 


G 


Carroll, Thomas 


2d Lt. 


H 


Cassidaj', John 


Private 


H 


Colebaugh, Wm. 


u 


K 


Cotter, Thomas 


" 


K 


Dunn, Jas. 


2d Lt. 


A 


Donavan, Wm. 


Coip'l 


A 


Doyle, Patrick J. 


Private 


A 


Dougherty, Chas. 


Serg't 


C 


Drain, James 


Private 


c 


Dimond, Peter 


u 


D 


Donahue, James 


" 


D 


Driscoe, Patrick 


(( 


E 


Deveruey, Christian 


« 


E 


Dunn, John 


il 


F 


Deverney, Patrick 


<( 


F 


Devi lie, Thomas 


Serg't 


H 


Devin, James 


Private 


H 


Dugan, Wm. 




H 


Duffy, Michael 


Capt. 


I 


Dupell, Wm. 


Private 


I 


Dever, Thomas C. 


" 


I 


Diviney, John 


Serg't ' 


K 


Dougherty, Cone's 


Private 


K 


Eckart, John 


(1 


A 


Elliott, James 


" 


D 


Edwards, James 


" 


F 


rianigan, James 


(( 


A 


Fitzpatrick, Mark 


" 


B 


Farrelly, Hugh 


" 


C 


Fabry, Michael 


(1 


C 


Finnigas, Francis 


(( 


D 


FuUerton, John 


(( 


F 


Fike, Samiiel 


(C 


G 


Friel, James 


" 


G 


Fritzimmons, John 


cc 


I 


Flynn, John C. 


" 


K 


Granlees, Moses 


" 


A 


Gorman, Milton 


(( 


A 


Gillen, George 


Serg't 


B 



Remarks. 



Died at Philadelphia, Jan. 6, 1865. 

Died at Washington, D. C, Sept. 8, of wounds 

received at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, 

1864. 
Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 5, 1SG4. 
Died at Fredericksburg, Ya., May 12, of wounds 

received at Spottsylvania C. H., May 11, 

1864. 
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862. 
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa.. July 3, 1863. 
Died at Philadelphia, June 25, 1862. 
Died of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., 

July 3, 1863. 
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Nov. 5, 1864. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died at Camp Observation, MM., 1862. 
Killed accidentally near Philadelphia, Pa., Apr. 

18, 1864. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Mine Run, Va., Nov. 27, 1S63. 
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Dec. 21, 1864. 
Died at Camp Observation, Md., Dec. 13, 1861. 
Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., Aug. 7, 1862. 
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Au;;. 2.'), 1864. 
Died at Bolivar Heights, Va., Oct. 30, 1863. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1864. 
Killed at Charles City Cross-Roads, Va., June 

30, 1862. 
Died at City Point, Va., June 27, of wounds re- 
ceived at Petersburg, Va., June 25, 1864. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 
Died at Yorktown, Va., Mav 2(», 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Fair Oaks, Ya., May 31, 1862. 
Died at Philadelphia, July 1, 1864. 
Died at Salisbury, N. C, Oct. 28, 1864. 
Died at Andersonville, Ga., July 2, 1864. 
Died Sept. 24, of wounds received at Antietam, 

Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Died at Alexandria, Va., Apr. 26, 1862. 
Killed at Deep Bottom, Ya., Aug. 24, 1864. 
Died at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862. 
Killed at Petersburg, Ya., June 22, 1864. 
Died at Camp Observation. Date unknown. 
Accidentally killed at Washington, D. C, March, 

1864. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died Apr. 1, of wounds received at Hatcher's 

Run, Va., March 25, 1865. 
Died at Newark, N. J., Oct. 21, 1862. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Hatcher's Run, Ya., Feb. 5, 1865. 
Killed at Cold Harbor, Ya., June 12, 1864. 
Killed at Bailey's Cross-Roads, Va., Sept. 29, 1861. 



yv 



SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 



297 



Roll of Dead, Sixty-Ninth Regiment. — Continupd. 



Name. 



Gallagher, John 

Gallagher, Timothy 
Gallen, Patrick 
Gallagher, Jerem'h 
Greene, John 
Glackin, John 
Gallagher, Chas. 

Gallagher, Andrew 
Gordon, Robert 
Gertof, Fred'k 
Garvin, Patrick 
Gilleii, Cornelius 
Gartmann, \Vm. 

Gleeson, Frank P. 



Heally, Patrick 
Harvey, Jolm, Sr. 
Harvey, John, Jr. 
Higgins, Patrick 
Hand, James 
Hayes, William 
Haughty, John 
Hamilton, John 
Hurley, Jolin 
Hiskey, John 
Head, Eilward 
Hart, Patrick 
Haseler, James 
Hand, John 
Harrinjiton, John 
Jenkins, Chas. 
Judge, Thomas 
Jack, Josiah 
Kennedy, Cornelius 

Kahili, John 

Kearney, Patrick 
Kelly, Richard 
Koch, Joseph R. 

Kearney, William 
Kelly, Hugh 
Kelly, Thomas 

Kelly, Chas. F. 
Kelly, Francis 



Kerns, .John 
Lawler, James 
Larkiiis, Owen 



Rank. 


Co 


Private 


B 


(1 


B 


" 


C 


Serg't 


D 


Private 


1> 


(t 


D 


Serg't 


F 


Corp'l 


G 


Private 


G 


" 


G 


" 


G 


Serg't 


I 


Private 


I 



Serg't 
Private 



Serg't 
Private 



Serg't 
Corji'l 
Private 



1st Lt. 
Private 

Serg't 

Corp'l 
Private 

Serg't 

Private 

Serg't 
Capt. 

2d Lt. 
Private 



K 



Remakes. 



Killed at Charles City Cross-Roads, Va., June 
30, 18(i2. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa.. July 2, 18(;:j. 

Died at Falmouth, Ya., IMarch 9, 18(;:!. 

Killed at Gettysl)urg, Pa., .July :'., llS(i3. 

Killed at Yorktown, Ya., May 5, 1862. 

Killed at Chantilly, Va., Sept. 1, 1S02. 

Died — date unknown — of wounds recrived at 
Spottsylvania, Ya., May 12, 18G4. 

Died at Richmond, Ya. Date unknown. 

Died at Andersonville, Ga.. Nov. 4, 18G4. ■ 

Killed at Wilderness, Ya., May G, 18G4. 

Killed at Wilderness, Ya., May 6, 1804. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 18G2. 

Died S' pt. 9, 18G2, of wounds received at New 
Market Cross-Roads, Ya., June 30, 18G2. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 2, 18G3, of 
wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., July 
3, 1863. 

Died at Falmouth, Ya., Apr. 24, 1863. 

Died at Alexandria, Ya., Oct. 15, 1863. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died at Camp Observation, Md., Oct. 14, 1861. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died Sept. 5, 1864. 

Died at Fortress Monroe, Ya., July 15, 1S62. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 18G3. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Antietiim, Md.', Sept. 17, 18G2. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Ream's Station, Ya., Aug. 25, 1864. 

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Ya., May 12. 1864. 

Died at. Washington, D. C, Jan. 4, 1865, of 
wounds received in action. 

Died Dec. 29, 18G2, of woiinds received at Fred- 
ericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died at Fortress Monroe, Ya., July, 1862. 

Died of wounds received at Petersburg, Va., 
June 16, 1864. 

Died at Camp Observation, Md., Feb. 19. 1862. 

Kilh'd at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died May 18, 186 1, of wounds received at Spott- 
sylvania C. 11., Ya., May 12, ISGl. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., — date unknown, — of 
wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., July 
3, 1863. 

Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Died June 27, 1862, of wounds received in ac- 
tion. 



26 



298 



ROLL OF DEAD, 



Roll of Dead, Sixty-Ninth Regiment. — Continued. 



Name. 



Ledger, Chas. 

Lightsinger, David 
Lynch, Timothy 
Liudell, John 
Logue, Edward 
Lanaghan, Jere'h 
Lafferty, Edward 
Loviden, John F. 
Logan, Michael 
Little, George 
M'Govern, Farrell J. 
Morrison, Robert 
M'Geehan, Wm. 
M'Shea, James F. 
M'Cutcheon, David 
M'Fadden, Arthur 

Mullins, James 
Moyer, Andrew 
M'Naniara, John 
M'Sorley, Matthew 

M'Gucken, And'w 
M'Call, Hugh » 

Monagle, Peer 
Moss, Jas. 
M'Devitt, Hugh 

M'Nulty, James 

M'Ginley, James 
M'Hugh, Joseph 
M'Cabe, Jas. 
M'Cann, James 
M'Williams, John 
M'Vay, James 
M'Claine, William 

M'Nasby, Dennis 
M'Leaman, Hugh 

M'Manus, Thomas 
M'Manus, Andrew 
M'Elroy, John 
Mooney, Thomas 
M'Elraiu, John 
M'Carson, Edward 

Mulholland, George 
Mulholland, Arthur 
M'Cafferty, Neal 
M'C'urniick, Stewart 
M'Kenny, John 
Mullen, JMichael 
M'Caun, Edw. 
M'Lauuhlin, James 



Rank. 


Co. 
B 


Private 


(( 


C 


" 


c 


(( 


F 


(1 


F 


Cl 


G 


(( 


I 


(( 


I 


(C 


I 


(C 


K 


Corp'l 
Private 


A 
A 


u 


A 


Serg't 


B 
B 


Corp'l 


B 


Private 


B 


" 


B 


u 


B 


(( 


B 


» 


B 


(( 


B 


Corp'l 
Private 


c 
c 


" 


c 


(( 


c 


2dLt. 


D 


1st Lt. 


D 


Serg't 
Corp'l 
Private 


D 
D 
D 


(( 


D 


1 


D 


t( 


D 


<f 


D 


(( 


D 


Capt. 
Corp'l 


E 
E 


Private 


E 


" 


E 


11 


E 


Serg't 


F 


Private 


F 


u 


F 


11 


F 


" 


F 


1st Sgt. 


G 


Private 


G 


11 


G 



Remarks. 



Died at Glendale, Ta., July 5, 1862, of wounds 
received in action. 

Died at Camp Curtin, Pa., March 14, 1865. 

Died at Salisbury, N. C, Nov. 29, 1864. 

Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864. 

Killed at Petersburg, Ta., June 17, 1864. 

Died. Date unknown. 

Died at Philadelpliia. Date unknown. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 

Died at Audersouville, Ga., Oct. 15, 1864. ■ 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa.. March 25, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died May 22, 1865. 

Died July 1^7, c f wounds received at Charles 
City Cross-Roads, Va., June 30, 1862. 

Died at Camp Observation, Md., Jan. 9, 1862. 

Died at Andersonville, Ga., July, 1864. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died Dec. 14, of wounds received at Fredericks- 
burg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 

Died at Brandy Station, Va., Apr. 28, 1864. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died Dec. 10, 1862, of wounds received at An 
tietam, Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died July 6, of wounds received at Gettysburg, 
Pa., July 2, 1863. 

Killed at Hatcher's Run, Va.,.Feb. 5, 1865. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3. 1863. 

Killed at Wilderness, Va., Mayo, 1864. 

Died IMay 26, of wounds received at Spottsylva- 
nia C. II.. Va., May 12, 1864. 

Killed at Yorktown, Va., Apr. 17, 1862. 

Died June 15, of wotmds received at Fair Oaks, 
May 31, 1862. 

Died at Camp Observation. Date unknown. 

Killed near Falmouth, Va., May 27, 1863. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 10, 1864. 

Died Aug. 15, 1864. 

Accidentally killed on railroad near Philadel- 
phia, Pa., Oct. 12, 1863. 

Died at Annapolis, Md., Nov. 19, 1863. 

Died at Richmond, Va. Date imknown. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died at Camp Observation, 3Id., Feb. 15, 1862. 

Died at Richmond, Va., Nov. 20, 1863. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died at Washington, D. C, Sept. 27, 1863. 

Died at Windmill Point, Va., Feb. 1, 1863. 



SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 



299 



Roll of Dead, Sixty-Ninth Regiment. — Continued, 



Name. 



M'Intyre, James 
M'Erlaiie, Eichard 
M'Donough, Daniel 
M'Cusker, Bernard 
Murphj-, Fred'k 
Miles, Daniel 

Murphy, Edward 
Moran, Daniel 
M'Donald, Patrick 

M'Namara, Timothy 

M'Cormick, Wm. 



Moran, Geo. M. 
M'Dowell, Joseph 

O'Brien, Patrick 
O'Brien, Wm. 

O'Neill, James 
O'Neil, John 
O'Brien, Andrew 
O'Connor, John 
Ornisby, Edward 
O'Conner, Patrick 
Parkinson, James 
Pine, Benjamin 
Porter, Robert 
Quigley, Philip 
Rittamair, Wm. 
Reilly, Terrence 

Reedy, Michael 
Rodman, Juhn 
Rafferty, Patrick 
Robbins, Robert 
Ryan, Thomas 



Rank. 


Co. 


Private 


G 


" 


G 


<( 


G 


" 


G 


Serg't 


H 


Private 


H 


(I 


H 


<i 


H 


(( 


H 



Serg't 
Private 
Serg't 
Private 



I Corp'l 
1 Private 



H 



K 
K 

A 

A 

B 

F 

F 

G 

I 

K 

G 

I 

I 

B 

A 

B 

C 
C 
F 
F 
G 



Rice, James 


(( 


G 


Rohlfing, Christian 


" 


1 


Rapp, Henry 


(( 


i 


Sanders, Geo. C. 


Mus'n 


A 


Simpson, Hugh 


Private 


A 


Shand, Cyrus 


" 


A 


Sharp, Wm. 


" 


B 


Sullivan, Wm. 


" 


B 


Sauber, John I). 


ti 


U 


Stokes, Alex. 


» 


D 


Smith, Peter 


" 


J*' 


SpringtiehJ, Morris 


(( 


J*' 


Snyder, Monroe 


n 


G 



Remarks. 



Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862. 
Died at Bolivar Heights, Va., Oct. 27, 1802. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C.H.,ya.,May 10,1801. 
Died Nov. 9, 1864, of wounds received at Get- 
tysburg. Pa.. July 3, 1803. 
Died near Bristol, Va., Sept. 6, 1804. 
Killed at Petersburg, Va., Nov. 6, 1864. 
Died Jan. 7, 1803, of wounds received at Fred- 
ericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1802. 
Killed at Charles City Cross-Roads, Va., Juno 

30, 1862. 
Died at Washington, D.C.,— date unknown, — of 
wounds received at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va., 
May 18, 1864. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., July or Aug., 

1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died July 19, of wounds received at Gettys- 
burg. Pa., July 3, 1803. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 
Died at Andersonville, Ga., June 13, 1864. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed near Richmond, Va., June 18, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Burial record, Jan. 17, 18G3. 
Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 16, 1864. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Va.. Dec. 13, 1862. 
Died at Camp Parole, ]Md., Dec. 5, 1864. 
Died at Pidnt Lookout, Md., Nov. 4, 1862. 
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 9,1802, of wounds 

received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1802. 
Killed at Antietam, Jld., Sept. 17, 1802. , 
Killed at Po River, Va., May 9, 1864. 
Died at Richmond, Va., Oct. 15, 1863. 
Died at Alexandria, Ga., July 13, 1864. 
Killed on picket at Fair Oaks, Va., June 19, 

1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Pied— date unknown— of wounds received at 

Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 
Died at C:un\) Observation, 3Id., Jan. 22, 1862. 
Died at Point Lookout, Md.. Aug. 9, 1802. 
Died at Wasliin-ton, D. C, June 3, 1M04. 
Died at Washington, D. C, Dec. 15, 1862. 
Died near Petersburg, Va., Aug. 29, 1804. 
Died Sept. 19, of wounds received at Antietam, 

Sept. 17, 1S02. 
Died at Poolesville, Md., Apr. 3, 1802. 
Died at Richmond, Va., Fel). 7, 1H04. 
Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 0, 1804. 
Died November r>, 18r4, of woumls received in 
action Oct. 27, 1804. 



300 



ROLL OF DEAD. 



Boll of Dead, Sixty-Ninth Regiment. — Continued. 



Name. 



SoTiders, Heniy 
Shields, Francis 
Sailor, S. II. 
Titus, Wm. 
Thackary, Sam'l 
Toner, Wm. 

Toy, Bernard 
Thompson, George 

Taggart, Hugh 
Thompson, George C. 
Taylor, C. Howard 
Thomas, Henry 

Todd, William 
Tliompson, F. A. B. 
Todd, Jas. H. 
Udell, George 
Vanghan, Bev'y K. 
Vondersmith, Jos. L. 
Welsh, John AV. 
Waters, Bernard 

Wilson, Hector 

Welsh, Michael 
Waters, Michael 
Williams, Chas. 
White, Michael 
Williams, Jas. 
Williams, Wm. I. 
AVollen, Joseph 
Waters, John 
Wallace, Wm. M. 

Webb, Joseph S. 



Rank. 


Co. 


Private 


I 


(< 


K 


u 


K 


C( 


A 


1( 


B 


Corp'l 


C 


Private 


C 


If 


c 


« 


E 


Capt. 


F 


2d Lt. 


F 


Corp'l 


F 


Private 


H 


" 


I 


(1 


K 


" 


A 


" 


E 


Serg't 


K 


Private 


B 


1st Sgt. 


c 


Private 


C 


<c 


C 


" 


D 


Serg't 


H 


Private 


H 


a 


H 


" 


I 


(1 


I 


<i 


K 


(k 


K 


(( 


K 



Remarks. 



Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 18G2. 

Died at Portsmouth Grove, R. I., July 26, 1862. 

Died at Aiiderjonville, Ga., July 14, 1SC4. 

Dif^d at Riclimond, Ya., Feb. i:-!, 1865. 

Killed at Charles City Cross-Roads, Va.. June 
?0, 1862. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Died Aug. 27, of wounds received at Wilder- 
ness, Ya., May 6, 1864. 

Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., Aug. 16, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died Nov. 7, 1862. 

Died at Annapolis, Md., July 11, of wounds re- 
ceived Jit Gettj'sburg, Pa., July 3, 1803. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17. 1862. 

Died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 19, 1864. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 

Killed at Hatcher's Run, Va., March 25,1865. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864. 

Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 8, 1864. 

Killed at Charles City Cross-Roads, Va., June 
30, 1862. 

Died Sept. 19, of wounds received at Antietam, 
Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 1, 1863. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864. 

Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864. 

Died at Baltimore, Md., March 18, 1865. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 20, 1862. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md.'^ Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died March 27, of wounds received at Hatcher's 
Run, Va., March 25, 1865. 

Died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 30, 1864. 



ROLL OF DEAD. 



SEVENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 



Name. 



Booth, Harry 
Bunn, Albert G. 
Breen, Peter 
Barns, John 
Brown, Girard A. 
Brown, David Paul 
Beidlenian, Geo. W. 
Batt, Joseph 
Batt, William 
Brown, William 
Booth, Wm. S. 
Bushner, Clia^i. L. 
Black, William 
Beam, Merritt 
Bixler, Isaac 
Biles, Adin W. 
Bazor, Seymour 
Batzel, Daniel 
Chorlton, John 
Coggsvillc, Jamos 
Connelly, Albert 
Clift, Samuel G. 

Chipman, David 
Castor, Jolin 
Castor, Henry 
Conner, Patrick 
Clark, James 
Carroll, John 
Convoy, John 
Cosgrove, Thomas 
Coleman, Timothy 
Duval, Hamilton 
Daniels, Samuel H. 
Dawson, Robert 
Davis, Geo. W. 
Davis, Henry R. 



Rank. 


1 

Co. 


Private 


A 


Serg't 


B 


Mns. 


B 


Private 


B 


" 


C 


(1 


c ! 


« 


^ 


(( 


^ 


cc 


D 


« 


D 


Serg't 


E 


Private 


F 


Corp'l 


G 


" 


G 


Private 


G 


" 


G 


(k 


I 


(t 


K 


i< 


A 


Corp'l 


C 


Private 


C 


" 


c 


(1 


D 


a 


D 


« 


D 


1st Lt. 




Private 


G 


2d Lt. 


K 


Serg't 


K 


Private 


K 


Serg't 


A 


Private 


A 


" 


A 




C 


u 


"^ 



Remarks. 



Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1803. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1SG2. 

Killed at White Oak Swamp, Va., June 30, 1862. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, ISGl. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1802. 

Died March U, 1804. 

Died at Harper's Ferry, Va., Nov., 1802. 

Died at Richmond, Va., 1801. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1803. 

Died at Richmond, Va., Blav 15, 1864. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1802. 

Died at Baltimore, IMd.. l\Iarch, 1802. 

Killed at Cold IIarl)or. Va., June 5, 1864. 

Killed at Gettvsburg, l>a., July 3, 1803. 

Died at Washington, D. C, Dec. 30, 1863. 

Killed. in action, .June 3, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at IJall'^ BlnfT, Va., Oct. 21, 1801. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1801. 

Died of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va., 

June 1,1802. 
Killed at Ball's Hlnff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 
Killed at Ball's Bluff, A'a., Oct. 21. 1861. 
Died at Philadelphia, I'a., Nov., 1802. 
Died at Richmond, Va., Jan. 23, 1864. 
Killed in action. May 23, 1801. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 11, 1864. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1S02. 
Kille.l at Gettysburg, I'a., July 3, 1863. 
Killed aci-ideiitaliv, Fel)., l'^02. 
Dii'd at Washington, D. (!., Dec. 9, 1862. 
Killed at Peach Orchard, Va., June 29, 1862 
Killed at Antietam, Md., S.-pt. 17, 1H02. 
Killed at Hall's Hluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1801. 
Died Nov. 2, 1862. 



26* 



301 



302 



ROLL OF DEAD. 



Roll of Dead, Seventy- First Regiment. — Continued. 



Name. 


R.\NK. 


Co. 


Dare, Sylvester 0. 


Private 


F 


DeYoung, Benj. 


« 


F 


Diake, Joseph 


" 


I 


Davidson, Wm. H. 


(( 


I 


Devlin, Blichael 


" 


I 


Duross, John 


Corp'l 


K 


Dngan, John 


" 


K 


Denner, Richard 


Private 


K 


Dellinger, Thomas 


" 


K 


Dellinger, Jolin 


a 


K 


Davy, Chas. 


a 


K 


Dull, Wm. H. 


Capt. 


B 


Ernest, Geo. W. 


Private 


A 


Evans, Lewis 


Corp'l 


D 


Edwards, Evan 


Private 


I 


Evans, Wm. 


'• 


I 


Epich, Jacob 


" 


K 


Frinkle, Jacob 


(( 


B 


Fulton, John 


(( 


D 


Farrady, Wm. 


(( 


F 


Fallows, Wm. 


(( 


H 


Force, Thomas J. 


u 


H 


Galbraith, Jas. 


t( 


A 


Garritty, Jas. 


(1 


A 


Gravenstein, Jas. L. 


« 


C 


Gibson, John 


(( 


D 


Gallagher, Andrew 


Corp'l 


G 


Groom, George 


Private 


G 


Gallagher, Jas. 


" 


H 


Holmes, Wm. 


Serg't 


A 


Hooper, Andrew J. 


Private 


A 


Hand, Thomas 


(( 


A 


Hari'is, Wm. 


<( 


A 


Handy, David 


" 


C 


Hil.bs, Benj.F. 


2dLt. 


D 


Hunt, Elijah R. 


Corp'l 


D 


Hafer, Adam 


Private 


D 


Hartley, Richard 


" 


D 


Huling, Jas. 


a 


D 


Hafer, Samuel 


'< 


E 


Harwood, Wm. 


(( 


F 


Hanlon, Thomas 


i( 


G 


Hawvy, John R. 


(f 


H 


Happerly, Stephen 


(( 


H 


Hope, John 


" 


H 


Hirprick, George 


i( 


H 


Hervington, A. J. 


(i 


H 


Haggerty, James 


Corp'l 


K 


Hoover, George 


Private 


K 


Hill, Jesse 


Corp'l 


C 


Irvin, Casper 


Private 


B 


Ingraham, Theo. R. 


Corp'l 


F 



Remarks. 



Died of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., 
July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died July 14, 1862, ot wounds received in action. 

Died at Newark, N. J., Sept. 12, 1862. 

Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., Aug. 23, 1862. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died January, 1S62. 

Died at Point Lookout, Md., July 29, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died April 20, 1864. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died at York, Pa., Oct., 1862. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 27, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa , July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., Julv 3, 1863. 

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 11, 1864. 

Died Oct. 1, 1862. 

Died Oct. 29, 18b2. 

Killed at Antietam, 3Id., Sept. 17, 1S62. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12,1864. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Nov., 1862. 

Died July 18, of wounds received at Gettysburg, 
Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 4, 1861. 

Dipd at Richmond, Va., April 3, 1S64. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died at Washington, D. C, Jan. 3, 1863. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 

Died Dec. 27, of wounds received at Fredericks- 
burg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 9, 1864. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died of wounds received at Fredericksburg, 
Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Died Feb. 26, 1863, of wounds received at An- 
tietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 27, 1863. 

Killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May" 31, 1862. 

Died near Brandy Station, Va., March 4, 1864. 

Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., July 7, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed on picket, June 8, 1862. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 

Died at Richmond, Va., Dec. 7, 1863. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., Aug., 1862, 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died Dec, 1861. 

Died at Richmond, Va., Sept., 1863. 

Killed at White Oak Swan)p, Va., June 30, 1862. 

Died at Poolesville, Md., Dec. 1, 1861. 



SEVENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 



303 



Roll of Dead., Seventy-First Regiment. — Continued. 



Name. 



Johnson, John 
Jiigganl, Charles 
Kiles, Chas. 
Keller, C'has. A. 
Knight, Harry W. 
Kennedy, Robert 
Kyle, Robert J. 
Kelly, Chas. II. 
Kelly, Franeis 
Kevane, Daniel 
Lane, Wm. II. 
Lingertelter, J. W. 

LeBold, Jacob 
Lloyd, Andrew J. 
Lever, George 
Layton, Chas. 
Lesher, Peter 

Logan, Charles 
Lawman, Giistavus 
Lutsey, Harrison 
Lacille, Lucien 

Lowrie, Geo. 

Livingstone, Robert 
Loveland, Albert E. 
Liisk, William 
Lawrence, Wm. H. 
Lynch, Thomas 
Livzey, Edwin B. 
M'Kinim, Win. R. 
M'Geague, Thomas 
Migent, John 
Miller, Chas. 
M'Cuen, William 
Matlack, Henry R. 

Mullineanx, Sam'l 
Maxwell, Jas. 
M'Erlane, Anthony 
M'Langhlin, (,'. S. 
M'Keever, Edw'd L. 
]Mills, James 
Murphy, Samuel 
M'Carol, James 
Moore, Maurine C. 
M'3Ienamiii, R. 
ISIurray, .Me.x. 
Moore, Mansfield I. 
M'Closky, Edw. 
Miller, Reuben 
Mullen, Joseph 
M'Caffery, James 
M'Derniott, Andrew 
Nichuals, Joshua L. 



R.\NK. 


Co. 


Private 


H 




H 




B 




B 




C 




E 




E 




H 




K 



Remarks. 



Serg't 
Capt. 

Serg't 
Corp'l 
Private 



1st Sgt. 

Serg't 

Private 



Sers't 



UV 1 f^ l. 


I 


Corp'l 


A 


Private 


A 


(t 


B 


It 


B 1 


" 


^ 


" 


C ' 


(( 


c 1 


" 


c 


" 


D I 


Corp'l 


E 


Serg't 


D' 


Private 


!<• 


" 


G 


(1 


G 


Ist Lt. 


H 


Private 


H 


Serg't 


I 


Private 


I 1 


Serg't 


K i 


Private 


K ; 


t( 


K ' 


(( 


K 


" 


K 


" 


c 



Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 18G1. 
Killed at Balls Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 18G1. 
Died at Frederick City, Md., Dec. 1, 1SC2. 
Died Dec. 2:5, I8G1. 

Killed at Antietam. Md., Sept. 17, 18C2. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July :5, 185:5. 
Died at Newport News, Ya., S<'pt. IG, 18G2. 
Died at Anderson vi lie, Ga., March 1, 18G4. 
Died Aug., 1SG2. 

Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 4, 18G4. 
Killed at Ball's Bhift", Va., Oct. 21, 18G1. 
Killed on picket near Chain Bridge, Va., Sept. 

21, 18G1. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Peach Orchard, Va., June 29, 1862. 
Died at Philadelphia. Pa., Aus. 8, 1862. 
Died at New York, Oct. 18, 1862. 
Died July 8, of wounds received at Gettysburg, 

Pa., July :5, 18G:5. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 9, 1862. 
Died April 1, 1SG4. 
Died June 7, 1864, of wounds received at Cold 

Harbor, Ya. 
Died June 5, 18G4, of wounds received at Spott- 

sylvania C. H.. Va., May 12, 18G4. 
Died at Richmond, Va. Date unknown. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Died at Fort Hamilton, N. Y., Nov. 28, 1862. 

Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., July 21, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Spottsvlvania C.H., Va., May 12, 1864. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 

Killed at Cold Harbor, Ya., June :5, 18G4. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 19, 1862. 

Died Aug., 1862, of wounds received at Fair 
Oaks, Va. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 

Killed on picket, June 8, 1862. 

Died at Newi)ort News, Va., Sept. ;5, 1862. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 14, 18G2. 

Died at Amlersonville, Ga., April 25, 18C4. 

Died Dec. 14, lcS(;i. 

Died Sept. 8, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., .Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed on picket, June 8, 1.HG2. 

Died at Richmond, Ya., Feb., 1862. 

Killed at Antirtani, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died at Amlersonville, Ga., .\ng. :5, 1S64. 

Killed at Fredeiicksburg, Va., Dec. \\ 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July :5, 186:5. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., .Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died Atig., 18G2. 

Died Aug., 1862. 

Died at Richmond, Va., Dec, 1861. 



304 



ROLL OF DEAD. 



Boll of Dead, Seventy-First Regiment. — Continued. 



Namb. 



Norris, E. Carlyle 
Nelson, Jaines 
Noble, Samuel F. 

Otter, Win. E. 
O'Domiell, Michael 
Oswald, Jacob 
I'eterson, Thos. J. 
Pilliugs, Thomas 
Painter, Lemuel 
Paist, Alban T. 
Pratt, John M. 
Potter, Kobert II. 
Perkins, John J. 
Price, Rudolph 
Parker, Thomas 
Peoples, John 
Phelps, Isaac 
Pascoe, Josepli 
Payran, Joseph G. 
Peirce, George 

Peters, Geo. W. 
Quinn, Thomas 

Randelh Sewell 
Rcardon, \Vm. H. 
Ryan, Cornelius 
Reynolds, John 
Reilly, James 
Ryan, Thomas 
Robertson, William 
Rudolph, Joseph R. 
Rice, Henry A. 
Rave, Michael 
Radford, Valentine 

Steffan, John M. 
Steinmetz, Wm. H. 
Smith, William 
Suydam, Henry 
Slater, Samuel 
Scott, John 
Smith, Robert 
Standing, Richard 
Seabury, Robert S. 
Schaefi'ei', Christ'n A. 
Smucli, Jacob 
Smith, Philip 
Smitli, Matthew 
Shubb, Godfrey 
Smith, Mitchell 

Sargster, Joseph 
Stradling, M. L. 
Sargster, Wm. 
Survey, John B. 



Rank. 


Co. 

G 


Capt. 


Private 


G 


" 


I 


Capt. 


C 


Private 


C 


" 


G 


(1 


A 


" 


A 


" 


B 


Serg't 


C 


(( 


c 


Private 


c 


" 


c 


(1 


D 


a 


D 


11 


F 


It 


G 


11 


H 


(( 


H 


It 


H 


11 


I 


" 


H 


Corp'l 


D 


Private 


E 


Serg't 


G 


Private 


G 


i< 


G 


11 


H 


11 


n 


Serg't 


I 


Private 


I 


" 


I 


" 


K 


Capt. 


A 


Private 


A 


" 


B 


" 


B 


" 


C 


11 


D 


11 


D 


" 


D 


Capt. 


F 


2dLt. 


F 


Private 


F 


i< 


G 


11 


G 


11 


G 


Capt. 


H 


Corp'l 


H 


Private 


H 


" 


H 


" 


H 



Remarks. 



Died May 1, 1863, of wounds received in action. 

Died at Richmond, Va., Nov. 16, 1863. 

Died Oct. 8, 1862, of wounds received at Autie- 
tam, Md.. Sept. 17,1862. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff", Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 

Died Oct., 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died at York, Pa., Oct. 1, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died at Newport News, Va., Aug. 16, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 

Died Nov. 19, 1863. 

Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. 

Died at Brandy Station, Va., Feb. 25, 1864. 

Died of wounds received in action, June 15, 1864. 

Died Oct. 27, 1862. 

Killed at Falls Church, Va., Sept. 29, 1861. 

Killed at Falls Clmrch, Va., Sept. 29, 1861. 

Died June 11, 1864, of wounds received at Cold 
Harbor, Va. 

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 18, 1864. 

Died at Harrison's Landing, Va. Date un- 
known. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 

Died at Newport News, Va., Aug. 21, 1862. 

Died at Trenton, N. J., Sept., 1863. 

Killed at Ball's Blutf, Va., Oct 21, 1861. 

Killed in action, June 9, 1862. 

Killed at White Oak Swamp, Va., June 30, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died at Point Lookout, Md., Oct. 10, 1862. 

Died at Falmouth, Va., Jan. 17, 1863. 

Died at Harr. son's Landing, Va., Aug., 1862. 

Died May 17, 1864, of wounds received at Spott- 
sylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1864. 

Killed at Gettvsburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died Aug. 3, 1863. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Died at Washington, D. C, Oct. 19, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 

Died at Newport News, Va., Sept. 7, 1862. 

Killed May 7, 1864. 

Died at Poolesville, Md., March 3, 1862. 

Killed at Peach Orchard, Va., June 28, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at White Oak Swamp, Va., June 30, 1862. 

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 
1864. 

Killed accidentally, July 4, 1861. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff", Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861. 



SEVENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 



305 



Roll of Dead, Seventy- First Regiment. — Continued. 



Name. 



Shultz, Wui. 

Stockton, John 
Stanton, Merritt 
Stephens, Alex. 

Stephens, Richard 
Tack, Oliver P. 
Thompson, Robert 
Taney, Washington 

Teese, John 
Taylor, James 
Vance, John 
Vonderpehr, Frank 
Whitehead. Robert 
Wilson, William 
Watrous, Wilbar F. 
Wallin, Robert F. 
Williams, Joseph D. 
Williams, William 
Williams, Barney 
Weaver, Geo. 
Walker, Robert 

White, Joseph 
Williainson, John 
Williams, Robert 
Wilson, George 

Young, Wm. T. 
Ziegler, John C. 



Rank. 


Co. 


Corp'l 


I 


Private 


T 


" 


K 


u 


K 


» 


K 


" 


C 


" 


c 


" 


c 


Serg't 


D 


Corp'l 


G 


Private 


« 


Serg't 


H 


Private 


A 


2d Lt. 


B 


1 Serg't 


B 


Private 


(I 


2d Lt. 


D 


Private 


D 




D 




F 




F 




H 




H 




I 




K 




C 




C 



Remarks. 



Md., 



Died Sept. 29, 18G3, of wounds received at Get- 
tysburg, Pa., July 2, 18C:}. 

Dieil. Date unknown. 

Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 18f)4. 

Died of wounds received at Antietam, 
Sept. 17, 18G2. 

Died Aug.. 1862. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 18GI. 

Died Aug. 8, 18G2. 

Died Oct. .31, of wounds received at Antietam, 
Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 9, 1864. 

Killed in action, Dec. 14, 1863. 

Died Jan. 19, 1863. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died at Washington, D. C, Dec, 18G2. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 18G2. 

Killed at White Oak Swamj), A'a., June 30, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21. 1861. 

Killed at Fair Oaks, Va.. May 31, 1862. 

Died at Richmond, Va., March 4, 18G4. 

Killed at Poolesville, Md., Dec. G, 1861. 

Died Aug. 10, 18()2, of wounds received in ac- 
tion, June 29, 18G2. 

Killed at Falls Church, Va., Sept. 29, 1861. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died at Washington, D. C, Oct. 13, 18G2. 

Died of wounds received at Spottsylvania C. II., 
Va., IMay 12, 1864. 

Died April 10,1863. 

Died Oct. 5, 1862. 



EOLL OF DEAD. 



SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT. 



Name. 



Auner, Joseph G. 
Allen, Wm. H. 
Anderson, Geo. L. 

Asb, Edwin R. 
Appel, John 
Aitkens, Joseph 
Abrams, Geo. W. 
Brady, John 
Brown, Robert 
Borland, Joseph 
Ball, Samuel L. 

Bartman, Wm. H. 
Bander, John F. 
Berg, Wm. H. 
Briggs, Geo. 

Baker, Harry 

Beale, Wm. A. 
Buddy, Jacob John 
Brown, Wm. H. 

Barger, Wm. 
Gurnan, John 
Clark, Wm. W. 
Cresse, Wm. H. 
Coste, Michael 
Chambers, Geo. 
Class, Geo. W. 
Conner, Edmund 

Caldwell, Alfred 

Collier, Edmund Y. 



Rank. 


1 
Co. 

A 


Pri vate 


Corp'l 


C 


Private 


D 


(( 


F 


(C 


G 


Serg't 


I 


Private 


C 


" 


D 


" 


D 


(( 


D 


Serg't 


E 


(( 


F 


Private 


F 


(( 


F 


Corp'l 


G 


Private 


H 


(I 


H 


« 


H 


Corp'l 


I 


Private 


I 


" 


A 


(( 


A 


Corp'l 


B 


1st Lt. 


C 


Serg't 


C 


Private 


c 


" 


D 


(1 


E 


(( 


E 



Remarks. 



Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Fair Oaks, Ya., June 8, 1862. 

Died, Oct. 10, of wonnds received at Antietam, 
Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., June 25, 1864. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Wilderness, Ya., May 6, 1864. 

Killed at Cold Harbor, Ya., June 1, 1864. 

Died at Bolivar Heights, Ya., March 21, 1862. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 24, 1864. 

Died Sept. 25, 1862, of wounds received at An- 
tietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died of wonnds received at Gettysburg, Pa., 
July 3, 1863. 

Died — date unknown — of wounds received at 
Gettysburg, Pa., July, 1863. 

Killed at Falmouth. Ya., Dec. 8, 1862. 

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Ya., May 12, 1864. 

Died Dec. 26, of wounds received at Fredericks- 
burg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam. Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Died at Sharpsburg, Md., July 22, 1863. 

Killed at Briscoe Station, Ya., Oct. 14, 1863. 

Killed at Petersburg, June 17, 1864. 

Killed at Wilderness, Ya., May 6, 1864. 

Died Oct. 10, of wounds received at Antietam, 
Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died Aug. 7, 1862, of wounds I'eceived at Savage 
Station, Ya., June 29, 1862. 

Died Sept. 21, of wounds received at Antietam, 
Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 



306 



SE VENT} ^-SECOND R EGIMENT. 



307 



Roll of Dead, Seventy- Second Regiment. — Continued. 



Name. 



Cranston, Albert L. 

Campbell, Harry B. 

Clew, Samuel 
Clark, James E. 



Campbell, Daniel 
Cottrell, Ell win 
Cavanaugh, John L. 

Cook, Wm. H. 
Dumont, Augustus 
Dailey, Edw. 
Dungan, Albert 
Devlin, Joseph 

Dorff, Richard 
Devlin, Harry 
Dunlap, Clias. 
Dawson, Wm. 
Dunkiiifield, Geo. 
Davison, Chas. 
Dotter, Albert H. 
Debman, Albanus 
Donaldson, Harry 

Edwards, William 
Esler, Joseph 
Evans, Tyson 
Edgar, Gustavus 
FarreQ, John 

Fetters, Samuel II. 
Fox, Albert B. 
Finccy, Wm. 
Gartlaml, John 
Green, IMurgan II. 
Gilmour, Alfred 
Gallagher, Michael 
Gos.sman, Wm. 
Granger, Clias. P. 
Garvin, Samuel II. 
Groves, Joseph 

Grimm, John L. 
Gibson, Jesse A. 
Gallagher, Daniel E. 

Guinand, Virgil 
Giranl, Henry 
Grifhtli, James J. 
Glenn, .lacob 
Gray, Thomas 
Hoffman, Geo. 
Harris, Joseph K. 



Rank. 


Co. 
E 


Private 


'' 


E 


c. 


G 


(( 


G 


« 


I 


" 


I 


" 


K 


" 


K 


" 


B 




D 




D 


" 


G 


^J 








(( 


H 


Corp'l 


I 


Private 


I 


" 


I 


u 


I 


" 


I 


(( 


K 


Serg't 


N 


Private 


A 


" 


A 


a 


A 


a 


I 


(( 


C 


11 


F 


Serg't 


G 


" 


H 


" 


A 


Private 


B 


" 


B 


K 


C 


11 


E 


It 


E 


" 


E 


" 


E 


11 


E 




F 


11 


G 


It 


G 


1st Lt. 


I 


2d Lt. 


I 


Private 


K 


Serg't 


A 


Private 


B 



Remarks. 



Died July 6, of wounds received at Gettysburg, 

Pa., July, 18G:i. 
Died Aug. 8, of wounds received at Gettysburg, 

Pa., July, 18G:'.. 
Died at Falmouth, Va., Dec. 31, 1862. 
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., April 21, 18(;:'., of 

wounds received at Antietam, Mel., Sept. 

17, 1862. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sei)t. 17, 1862. 
Died Jul}' 1, of wounds received at Savage Sta- 
tion, Va., June 29, 1862. 
Died Aug. 11, 1862. 

Kille 1 at Getty-sburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., 3Iarch 8, 1863. 
Died at Poolosville, Md., Oct. 18, 1861. 
Died Nov. 17, of wounds received at Gettysburg, 

Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Sept. 21, 1864. 
Died at Bolivar, Va., Nov. 18, 1862. 
Died at Camp Observation, Md., June 10, 18t2. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 
Died at Morrisville, Va., Nov. 7, 1863. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va., 

June 27, 1862. 
Killed at Antietam, Mil., Sept. 17, 1S62. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Se].t. 17, 1862. 
Died at Camp Ob.servation, Md., Feb. 9, 1862. 
Died of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., 

July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Mine Run, Va., Nov. 27, 1863. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Antietam, Mil., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Died at Harper's Ferry, Va., Oct. 31, 1862. 
Died Mav 27, 1864. 

Killed at Gettysburg. Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died at New York City, July 16, 1862. 
Died at Foi-tress Monroe, Va., Nov. 7, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died of wounds received at Gettysburg, I'a., 

July 4, 1863. 
Killed at Odd Hurbor, Va., June 5, 1864. 
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., March Ki, lst;4. 
Died of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., 

Dec. i;i, 1862. 
Died Oct. 7, 1862. 

Died at Fortres.s Monroe, Va., Sept. 27, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Petersburg, Va., .lune 22, 1861. 
Dicil at Pliilidrlpliia, Pa., Nov. 26, IS6-.>. 
Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. 
Died May 27, 1864. 



308 



ROLL OF DEAD. 



Roll of Dead, Seventy- Second Regiment. — Continued. 



Name. 



Hawkins, Henry 
Hess, Geo. L. 
Hutterlock, John 
Harrison. Wm. 
Houshali; Wm. W. 
Harrigan, James 
Hesson, Bernard 
Houts, Leander 
Houts, Chas. 
Huntley, Louis D. 
Hemphill, David 

Hazzard, Wm. S. 
Heimer, John 

Holden, Geo. W. 
Huber, Edw. 
Hollingsworth, J. 

Hubell, Edw. 

Jones, Evan 
Johnson, John J. ' 

Jones, Sutton 
Jordan, Hiram 
Jacobs, Wm. 
Johnson, David 
Keen, Moses H. 

Kelter, Chas. 
Kennedy, Jas. 
Krider, Edw. 
Keelig, Fred'k 
Kiker, Wm. 
Krein, Henry 
Loudenstein, Wm. 
Leeson, John G. 
Liggetts, Chas. G. 
Lodge, Chas. G. 
Lambert, Thomas 

Longyear, Ernest 

Logan, Andrew 
Laird, Howard 
Lesher, Lewis 
Lawton, Stephen 
Mintzer, Abraham 
M'Gonigle, Clias. 
M'Dowell, Alex. 
Massey, Augustus 
Murphy, Chas. 
Morrison, Sam'l A. 
Murrow, Wm. 
M' Bride, John F. 
M'Farland, John P. 



Rank. 


Co. 
B 


Private 


1st Sgt. 


C 


Corp'l 


c 


Private 


c 


Serg't 


D 


Private 


D 


" 


D 


" 


E 


(( 


E 


" 


E 


(1 


E 


Serg't 


H 


Corp'l 


H 


Private 


H 


Corp'l 


1 


Private 


1 


" 


I 


<( 


A 


t< 


C 


2dLt. 


E 


Corp'l 


G 


Private 


i 


" 


K 


Serg't 


B 


Private 


B 


Corp'l 


F 


Private 


i 


(1 


K 


« 


K 


n 


E 


" 


A 


Corp'l 


B 


Private 


B 


" 


B 


" 


C 


« 


D 


(( 


G 


C( 


I 


" 


I 


" 


K 


i( 


A 


Capt. 


B 


Corp'l 


B 


Private 


B 


" 


B 


u 


B 


" 


B 


t( 


B 


(( 


B 



Remarks. 



Died at Convent Hospital, Md., July 20, 1863. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 18G2. 

Died Oct. 29, 1862. 

Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died at Milton, Pa., Dec. 28, 1S61. 

Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died Aug. 20, of wounds received at Gettysburg, 

Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 7, 1864. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 

1864. 
Killed at Savage Station, June 29, 1862. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Died Oct. 22, of wounds received at Antietam, 

Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Died Jan. 4, 1863, of wounds received at Fred- 
ericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 
Killed at Poolesville, Md., Sept. 8, 1861. 
Died of wounds received at Savage Station, Va., 

June 29, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died at Falmouth, Va., Dec. 7, 1862. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., June 20, 

1862. 
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., April 22, 1862. 
Died at Falmouth, Va., Feb. 5, 1863. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died at Fair Oaks. Va., July 15, 1862. 
Killed at Poolesville, Md., Feb. 7, 1862. 
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864. 
Died of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., 

July 3, 1863. 
Died Oct. 3, of wounds received at Antietam, 

Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862. 
Died at Camp Observation, Md., Feb. 6, 1862. 
Killed at Wilderness, May 6, 1864. 
Died at Camp Observation, Md., Dec. 14, 1861. 
Died a prisoner. Date unknown. 
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 27, 1863. 
Killed at Gettyslmrg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Antietam, Md.. Sept. 17, 1862. 
Died at Frederick, Md., Dec. 31, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., Julv 3, 1863. 



SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT. 



309 



Roll of Dead, Seventy- Second Regiment. — Continued. 



Name. 


Rank. 


Co. 

C 


Remarks. 


Mel lor, Fred'k 


Private 


Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 18G2. 


Mickle, Geo. 


(1 


c 


Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., .July 3, 18G:{. 


M'Aleer, Philip 


(( 


c 


Died of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 
17, 18C2. 


M'Callister, John S. 


" 


c 


Died of wounds received at Wilderness, Va., 
May G, 18G4. 


M'Bride, Andrew 


Capt. 


D 


Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 180:5. 


Martin, Francis 


Private 


D 


Died Sept. 27, of wounds received at Antietam, 
Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 


Miller, Henry 


" 


D 


Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 30, 18G3. 


Marsh, Edw. 


" 


D 


Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864. 


M'CuUough, Peter 


" 


D 


Died June 30, 1862. 


M'Laughlin, James 


" 


D 


Died July 12, of wounds received at Gett- sburg. 
Pa., July 3, 1863. 


M'Causland, John 


(( 


D 


Died July 27, of wounds received at Gettys- 
burg, Pa.. July 3, 1863. 


M'Dermott, Dennis 


"• 


D 


Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. 


Manly, Wm. H. 


" 


E 


Died of wounds received at Fair Oaks, A'a., 
June 27, 1862. 


Mills, Alex. 


K 


E 


Died Julv 9, of wounds received at Gettysburg, 
Pa., July 3, 1863. 


M'Donald, Wm. 


(( 


E 


Died Aug. 4, 1863, of wounds received at Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 


M'Intosh, Alex. 


U 


E 


Killed on Mechanicsville Road, Va., May 31, 
1864. 


Martin, Wm. R. 


Serg't 


F 


Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 


Mitclieson, Thomas 




F 


Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., July 8, 1862. 


Mackin, Peter 


Corp'l 


F 


Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 


M'Afce, Wm. 


Private 


F 


Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 18G2. 


Myers, Frederick 


Corp'l 


G 


Died of wounds received at Savage Station, Va., 
June 29, 1862. 


]\Ioore, Chas. 


Private 


G 


Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 19, 1861. 


M'Cullougli, Hugh 


(t 


G 


Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862. 


Mealey, Edw. 


C( 


H 


Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug., 1864. 


Miller, Jacob 


u 


I 


Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864. 


Matz, James 


(( 


K 


Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 


M'Carty, Chas. 


u 


K 


Killed at Gettysburg, I'a., July 3, 1863. 


M'Hugh, John 


(I 


K 


Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 


Nicholson, Thomas 


Corp'l 


D 


Died July 2U, of wounds received at Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 


Nock, Wm. H. H. 


Private 


D 


Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 


Neal, Joseph 


" 


D 


Died Sept. 27, of wounds received at Antietam, 
Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 


Noble, Walter 


(( 


K 


Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 


Neill. Albert IJ. 


(I 


K 


Killed at Gettysburg. Pa., July 3, 1863. 


O'Neill, Michael 




D 


Died at Harrisburg, Pa., Sept. 5, of wounds re- 
ceived at Gettysburg, I'a., July 3, 1^63. 


Peabody, A. W. 


2dLt. 


A 


Killed at Antietam, Md., Sei)t. 17, 1862. 


Pritchett, Joseph 


Corp'l 


C 


Died at Andersonville, Ga., Jan. 3, 1865. 


Peacock, Benj. E. 


Private 


C 


Died at Philadelphia. Pa., Jan. 24, 1864. 


Place, Wni. 


Serg't 


E 


Killed at Antiot;im, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 


Parker, Geo. F. 


Private 


V. 


KiUo.l at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1864. 


Painter, Jacob M. 


K 


F 


Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May IS, 
1864. 


Peifer, Geo. W. 


(( 


G 


Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 


Pollock, Joseph 


(t 


H 


Died June 28, 1862, of wounds received at Fair 
Oaks, Va., May 31, 18G2. 



27 



310 



ROLL OF DEAD. 



Roll of Dead, Seventy-Second Regiment. — Continued. 



Name. 


Rank. 


Co. 


Quirk, Edw. M. 


Private 


D 


Korer, Elwood 


ii 


A 


Roberts, Joseph S. 


t( 


B 


Riddell, Josepli T. 


tc 


C 


Riche, John 


t; 


C 


Robb, Jcdin A. 


" 


c 


Reifi", Jacob B. 


1st Sgt. 


E 


Kitter, EmeliQ 


Private 


E 


Roach, Thomas 


K 


E 


Rialle, Josiah 


(( 


F 


Roussel, Edw. G. 


Capt. 


G 


Rangle, Joseph 


Private 


G 


Reid, John 


" 


I 


Rever, Jacob 


" 


I 


Rainier, Samuel 


(1 


K 


Ritchie, Frank M. 


(1 


K 


Supplee, Andrew C. 


Capt. 


A 


Summers, Aaron 


Private 


A 


Shaw, Albert J. 


" 


A 


Skelton, James R. 


(( 


A 


Shaw, Augustus 


Cl 


A 


Shreve, Rich'd L. R. 


Capt. 


B 


Saylor, Theodore 


Corp'l 


C 


Strayline, Theodore 


" 


C 


Smith, Peter 


Private 


c 


Smith, Thomas 


" 


c 


Senneff, Isaac 


" 


c 


Stroch, Andrew F. 


Serg't 


D 


Smith, Thomas 


Private 


D 


Sellers, Gilbert L. 


Corp'l 


E 


Steptoe, John 


11 


E 


Stainrook, David 


Private 


E 


Shoner, Fred'k 


" 


E 


Slaven, Thomas 


Corp'l 


F 


Sheridan, Albert S. 


Serg't 


G 


Stuart, Geo. 


Corp'l 


G 


Shutler, Bernard 


Private 


I 


Shrack, Wm. K. 


(1 


I 


Seipher, Lewis 


» 


I 


Sparks, Richard 


Serg't 


C 


Spoerhase, Henry 


Private 


G 


Taylor, Ayres 


" 


B 


Travers, James 


(t 


B 


Taylor, Chas. A. 


Corp'l 


C 


Tees, Peter 


Private 


c 


Teamer, James 


" 


D 


Weiser, Reuben 


(1 


A 


Wills, Adon G. 


Corp'l 


B 


Wise, John W. 


Private 


B 


Walto, Geo. M. 


" 


B 



RemaekS. 



Died at Camp Obsei-vation, Md., Jan. 9, 1862. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1862. 
Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29, 1862. 
Killed at Fair Oaks, Ya., June 8, 1862. 
Died at New York, June 17, 1862. 
Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29, 1862. 
Died at Aiidersonville, Ga., Oct. 17, 1864. 
Killed on picket at Fair Oaks, Va., June 8, 

18G2. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1862. 
Killed at Fair Qaks, Ya., May 31, 1862. 
Died Oct. 11, of wounds received at Antietam, 

Md., Seiit. 17, 1862. 
Died at Newport News, Va., Sept. 20, 1862. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Gettvsburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 27, 1864. 
Killed at Fredericks! mrg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1862. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29, 1862. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1862. 
Killed at Wilderness, Ya., May 6, 1864. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3. 1863. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died at Andersonville, Ga., July 31, 1864. 
Killed at Fair Oaks, Ya., June 8, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Accidentally killed at Camden, N. J., Dec. 12, 

1862. 
Died of wounds received on picket at Fair Oaks, 

Ya., June 25, 1862. 
Died July 16, 1863, of wounds received at Get- 
tysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg. Pa., Julv 3, 1863. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Died July 5, of wounds received at Gettysburg, 

Pa., July 2, 1863. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Ya., May 

1864. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29, 1862 
Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29, 1862 
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 8, 1862. 
Killed at Petersburg, Ya., June 22, 1864. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died June 14, 1.^62. 

Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29. 1862 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 3, 1862. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 



12, 



SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT. 



311 



Roll of Dead, Seventy- Second Regiment. — Continued. 



Name. 



Willetts, Peter H. 
Woods, John 
AViiglit, John P. 
Wray, Tlionias C. 
Wood, Janu's 
Wolf, Frederick 

Walbert, Frank 
AVirili, rred'k 
Wells, Chas. B. 



Rank. 


Co. 


Capt. 


C 


Private 





" 


D 


Corp'l 


E 


Private 


F 


" 


E 


(( 


F 


" 


G 




H 



Kemarks. 



Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 18fi2. 

Died at Harrison's Landing, Ya., July, 18G2. 

Died June :'>(), 1SG2. 

Died at Lynchbiirjr, Ya., Julv 2G, lFf)4. 

Died at J'iiiladelpliia, Pa., Bl'arch t'l, 186:i. 

Died Julv 2'2, 18trJ, of wounds received at Fair 

Oaks, Ya., May 31, 18G2. 
Killed at Gettysburg, I'a., Julv 2, 18fi:?. 
Died at Phiiadeliiliia, Pa., Aug. :5, 18G2. 
Killed at Antietam, IMd., Sept. 17, 18G2. 



27* 



EOLL OF DEAD. 



ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT. 



Name. 



AUfn, Ricliard S. 
Armstrong;, S. K. 
Allen, Will. 
Anderson, John 
Ancli'i'son, A. 
Anderson, Robert 
Anderson, John R. 
Biiwmun, Isaac 
Beckley, Joseph 
Biiiker, James 
"^othwell, Alex. 
Burn ess, James 
Brjan, Wm. 
Brvan, Dawson 
Bobli, John 
Bitler, Thomas 

Bl me, John 
Blackburn, Wm. 
Bbiir, Henry P. 
Bonstead. Thos. D. 
Barber, Geo. 
Chambers, Jos. A. 
Caul field, John 
Canning, James 
Carr. Levi 
Comfort, Wm. H. 
Campbell, Michael 
Clark, Timothy 

Carley, John 
Carnthcrs, Wm. 
Chacon, Alfred AV. 
Carpenter, Josiah 
Dibble, Wm. A. 
Davis. Henry 
Dawd, Thomas 



Rank. 


Co. 
B 


Private 


11 


D 


ft 


G 


t( 


H ! 


" 


H 


11 


H 


" 


H 


" 


A ! 


11 


A 


i 


B 


It 


C 


11 


E 


2dLt. 


F 


Private 


F 


(C 


G 


" 


G 


It 


H 


11 


I 


Serg't 


C 




H 


Private 


I 


" 


B 


It 


B 


" 


B 


" 


C 


It 


C 


It 


E 


Capt. 


F 


Private 


F 




G 




B 




H 




C 




D 




D 



Remarks. 



Died Dec. 26, 18f)l. 

Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1S64. 

Died at Washington, D. C, Oct. 25, 1862. 

Died at Camp Observation, Md., Feb. 12, 1862. 

Died at Millen, Ga. 

Died. 

Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864. 

Died at Yorktown, Ya., 3Iay 25. 1862. 

Killed at Antictam. Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., Julv 2, 1863. 

Died at Yorktown, Ya., Apr. 17, 1862. 

Died at Wilmington, N. C, date unknown. 

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 

Died at Andnrsonville. Ga., Aug. 26. 1864. 

Killed at Fair Oaks, Ya., June 28. 1862. 

Died of wounds received at Wilderness, \a,, 

3Iay 6. 1864. 
Died at And^rsonville, Ga., Oct. 28, 1864. 
Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29, 1862. 
Killed at Spotfsylvania C. H., Ya.,May 12, 1864. 
Died at Andersonvdle, Ga., Sept. 11, 1864. 
Died at Andersonville, Ga. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, l.<^62. 
Killed at Wilderness, Ya., May 6, 1864. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Ya.,IMay 12,1864. 
Died at Newport News, Ya., Aug. 17. 1862. 
Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 20, 1S62. 
Killed at Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862. 
Died Sept. 19, of wounds received at Antietam, 

Md., Se|)t. 17, 1862. 
Died at Annapolis, Md , March 23, 1865. 
Died at Harper's Ferry. Ya.. Nov. 18. 1!=63. 
Died at Ander.sonville. Ga., Sept. 4. 1S64. 
Died at Newport News, Va., Sept. 6, 1862. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., S<'pt 17, 1862. 
Died at Point Lookout, Md., July 26, 1862. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 



312 



ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT. 






Roll of Dead, One Hundred and Sixth Regiment. — Continued. 



Name. 



Dann, Jasper N. 
Dudley, Matthias 

Dransfield, Reuben 
Darnigh, Henry 

Diemer, Heiiiy 
Fesmire, John 

Fitziiio;er, Samuel 
J'airchild, Wallace 
Fo-'tei", Daniel L. 
Fuller, Andrew J. 

Fagan, Thomas 

Friok, John 
Foliet, Eutjene F. 
Frost, Martin 0. 
Finfrotk, Alfred 
Flaiinery, John 
Faiicliild, W. W. 
Griffitii, Jesse L. 
Grover, Geo. 
Gage, Jo.-iluia A. 
Gerrity, Tims. 
GaniMc, Wm. 
Gee, Ilicliard 
Green, John 
Hickman, Chas. E. 
Hartiiiaii, Weusil 
Hudson, James C. 

Hayburn, Samuel 
Hickok, Clias. H. 
Haws, Wm. H. 
Hall, James H. 
Holcoinl), Ellery J. 
Hardin <r, Wick man 
Herrington, Hnnry 
Hider, Joshua M. 
Harr s, John 
Hum!)le. .Tacob 
James. Pamuel T. 
Kelly, Wm. 
King, Robert M. 
King. Abram 
Kilmer, Wm. E. 
Kelly, Michael 
Kru])p, Geo. 
Kearn'y. Geo. 0. 
Keiiier, David 
Liikcns, Chas. 
Landen, Levi S. 
Levy, David 
Landrus, Geo. W. 
Little, Myron T. 



Rank. 


Co. 


Private 


D 


" 


D 


Corp'l 


I 


(( 


K 


Private 


H 


« 


A 


Corp'l 


B 


Private 


B 


Corp'l 


D 


Private 


D 


li 


G 


" 


G 


1st Lt. 


I 


Capt. 


K 


Private 


K 


u 


K 


(< 


K 


" 


C 


" 


C 


2d Lt. 


D 


Private 


C 


(C 


I 


(( 


K 


" 


K 


Serg't 


A 


Private 


A 


" 


A 


Corp'l 


B 


Sei-g't 


C 


Private 


C 


Serg-t 


D 


Corp'l 


D 


Private 


D 


" 


D 


(( 


I 


" 


K 


" 


G 


Serg't 


B 


Private 


C 


(( 


D 


" 


D 


i( 


D 


« 


E 




G 


«' 


G 


« 


I 


u 


A 


" 


C 


it 


C 




F 



Remarks. 



Died at Newport News, Va., Sept. 22, 1FG2. 

Died at Fredericksburg, Va., I\Iay 19, ol wounds 
received at Wilderness, Va., 'May 13, 18(;4. 

Died Aug. IG, 1802. 

Died at Washington, D. C, July 14, 18G4, of 
wounds received in action. 

Killed at Antietam, 31d , Sept. 17, 18C2. 

Died at Annapolis, 3Id., June 22, of wounds 
received at I'etersburg, Va., June IS, 18G4. 

Killed at Gettvsburg, Pa., July 2, l.sHlJ. 

Died Dec. :il, i8r,2, at Washington, D. C. 

Killed at Cold Harbor, A'a., June 4. 1SG4. 

Died at Falmouth, Va., Di'C. 2(i, of wounds re- 
ceived at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 1:5, 18G2. 

Killed accidentally at Camp Observation, Md., 
Feb. 2G, 18G2. 

Died at Washington, D. C, Jan. 5, 18G3. 

Died at Yorktown, Va., April 19, lS;fi2. 

Killed at Fair Oaks, Va., June 8, 18G2. 

Died at Wasbington, D. C, Aju-il 20, I'^G.'). 

Died at Andersouville, Ga., Oct. 18, 1SG4. 

Killed June 8, 18G2, at Fair Oaks, Va. 

Killed at Wilderness, Va.. May G, 18G4 

Died ;it J^cwjiort News, Va., Aug., ^h<]^■^. 

Killed at Spottsvlvania C. 11., Va..I\Iay 12, 18C4. 

Died at Andersouville, Ga., Jan. 2. 18G5. 

Died Jan. 12, 18fi:'., at Falmouth, Va. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 8, 18G2. 

Killed at FredcricksLurg, Va., Dec. 1:5, 1862. 

Killed at Antielam, IMd., Sept. 17, 18G2. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 1:5, 18G2. 

Died 3Iay 20, 1SG4, of wounds received at Wil- 
derness, Va., May G, 18G4. 

Killed at Gettvsbur-r. Pa., July 2, 18G3. 

Killed at Wilderness, Va., Jlay G, 18G4. 

Died at Wliite House. Va., Mav 20, lsti2. 

Kilbd at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va..May 12. 1804. 

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., IMay 12. 18(14. 

Killed at Savage Station, Va.. June 2'.>. 18(;2. 

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., A'a.. May 12, 1.VC.4. 

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July :5, 18G 5. 

Died at An<lersoiiville, Ga., Oct. lo, 1SG4. 

Die<l at Salisburv. N. ('., Jan. 15, l^G.i. 

Killed at Gettysburg. I'a.. July 2, 1SG:5. 

Dii'd at Gettysburg, I'a., July 4, 1SC:5. 

Killed at Savage Stati(m, Va., June 29, 1SC2. 

Killed at Wiblerness, Va., Mav G, 18G4. 

Died at Miltbrd Station, Va., May 28, 18G4. 

Died. Date unknown. 

Died at Norristown, I'a., April i:5, 18G2. 

Killed at G-ttv.sburg, Pa., July 2, lMj:j. 

Died May 10, ■l8G2. 

Killed at Pctersbiirg, Va., June 22, 1SG4. 

Di''d. Date unknown. 

Killecl at Fredeiicksburg, Va., Dec. Ill, 1802. 

Died at Yorktown, Va.. May 7, 18G2. 

Died at Andersouville, Ga., June 3, 1864. 



314 



ROLL OF DEAD. 



Roll of Dead, One Hundred and Sixth Regiment. — Continued. 



Name. 



Leggett, Walter 
Letts, James W. 
Lavaber, 3Iartiti H. 
Morris, Geo. W. 
M'Neal, Win. 
Mason, Geo. G. 
Manley, AVm. H. 

Mann, Wm. 
Morrell, David 
M'Cooiiibs, John 
M'Laiiglilin, John 
jM'Coy, Henry 
Magargle, Samuel 
Muir, Wiii.H. 
IMartin, Wm. 
M'Muller, Wm. 
Morse, Andrew 
Mount, James 
Mountenay, John 

Matthews, Robert 
M'Clay, John 
Nathans, Simon 
Osier, Hugh M. 
Polen, Wm. D. 
Parker, John R. 
Price, Gideon 
Paddock, Lewis 
Page, Wm. 
Painter, John H. 
Pierce, John W. 
Quirk, Thomas 
Reeder, Andjrose 
Rundall, Arthur L. 
Rice, Jacob 

Ritter, Wilson 
Robbins, Geo. W. 
Richards, John 
Roe, Tliomas 
Reeber, James B. 
Robbins, J. 
Rodebaugh, Ellwood 
Rich, Isaac H. 
Swartz, Cbas. S. 
Smith, Jolin W. I). 
Scullen, Patrick 
Sheak, Frederick 
Steiuer, Edw. 

Smith, Wm. H. 
Schambacher, G. W. 
Scott, Geo. D. 
Schambacher, C. F. 
Sliaye, Patrick 
Smith, Henry 



Rank. 


Co. 
G 


Private 


(( 


K 


(( 


K 


(( 


A 


Corp'l 


C 


Private 


D 


u 


D 


(( 


E 


" 


E 


(( 


E 


tl 


E 


Corp'l 


F 


Serg't 


G 


" 


G 


Private 


I 


" 


I 


(f 


K 


" 


K 


c 


E 


Corp'l 


D 


Private 


K 


" 


B 


(C 


A 


" 


D 


(f 


F 


<1 


H 


<( 


K 


" 


K 


li 


C 


" 


K 


ii 


K 


u 


D 


ii 


D 


(( 


E 


(( 


G 


(C 


G 


(( 


H 


u 


I 


<' 


F 


" 


G 


(( 


D 


«' 


H 1 


1st Lt. 


A 


Serg't 


A 


Private 


A 


" 


A 


" 


A 


2d Lt. 


B 


Private 


D 


" 


D 


u 


D 


I( 


E 


(( 


G 



Remarks. 



Killed at Antietara, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Died at Alexandria, Va., Oct. 10, 1862. 
Died at Washington, D. C, Nov. 30, 1862. 
Killed at Wilderness, Va.. 3Iay 9, 18«4. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1802. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Died at Washington, D. C, June 18, of wounds 

received at Cold Harbor, Va., June 8, 1864. 
Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., July 6, 1862. 
Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. 
Died on board U. S. transports. Aug. 9, 1862. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Drowned in Jam^s River, July 2, 1864. 
Killed at Wilderness, Va., Ma'y 6, 1864. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C.H., Va.,May 13,1864. 
Killed at Spottsvlvania C. H., Va.. May 12, 1864. 
Died at Baltimore, Md., Oct , 1862. 
Died at Harper's Ferrv, Va., March 6, 1862. 
Died at Baltimore, Md., July 23, 1862. 
Died of wounds received at Antietam, Md., 

Sept. 17, 1862. 
Died at Andersonville, Ga. 
Died at Baltimore, Md., Jan. 5, 1863. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C.H., Va.,May 12,1864. 
Died near Falmouth. Va., March 14, 1862. 
Killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862. 
Died at Salisbury, N. C, Jan. 27, 1865. 
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Sept. 30, 1864. 
Killed at Ream's Station, Va., Aug. 25, 1864. 
Died at Fortress Monroe, Va., Aug. 16, 1862. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 
Died at Harrison's Landing, Aug. 13, 1862. 
Died at Newport News, Va., Aug. 19, 1862. 
Died at Turner House, Va., June 15, 1862. 
Died at New York, Oct. 1, 1862. 
Died at Smoketown, Sid., Oct. 10, of wounds 

received at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C.H., Va., May 12, 1864. 
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 21, 1864. 
Died at Andersonville, Ga.. Sept. 12, 1864. 
DiedSept. 16, 1862. 
Died at Salisbury, N. C. Jan. 27, 1865, 
Died at Florence, S. C, Nov. 19, 1864. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 
Killed at Spottsvlvania C.H.,Va.,May 12,1864. 
Killed at Spottyslvania C. H., A'a., IMav 11, 1864. 
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. 
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862. 
Killed accidentally at Stevensburg, Va., Jan. 

15, 1864. 
Killed at Gettvsbura-, Pa., July 2, 1863. 
Died at New York, July 10, 1862. 
Died at Point Lookout, Md., Aug. 10, 1862. 
Died at Washington, D. C, June 24, 1863. 
Killed at Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862, 
Died at New York, Dec. 1, 1802. 



ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT. 315 



Roll of Dead ^ One Hundred and Sixth Regiment. — Continued. 



Name. 



Sclnvenk, Josiali 
Starr, Anthony 
Stulz, Abraham 
SteveusdH, John 
Strohm, Jusoi)h J. E. 
Spanhlinji:, Jas. W. 
Scudder, Wilson J. 

Smith, Wm. H. 
Smith, Gilbert R. 
Tuwnsend, S. R. 
Townseud, Wm. S. 

Tobin, Terrence 
Tebo, Lewis W. 
Ulijohn, Geo. 
Veil, Henry C. 
Walton, David G. 
Warnock, Wm. 
Webster, Geo. 
Wangh. Fred'k L. 
White, Roswell 
Wesely, John 
Warrington, J. H. 



Rank. 


Co. 


Private 


6 


" 


G 


(( 


G 


" 


I 


Serg't 


K 


Private 


K 


Corp'l 


D 


Private 


H 


(C 


K 


Capt. 


E 


Private 


G 


u 


G 


" 


K 


(C 


H 


Serg't 


D 


(Jorpl 


A 


Private 


B 


" 


B 


Mus. 





Private 


D 


" 


F 


a 


H 



Remarks. 



Died at Torktown, Ya., May, 18C2. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 18(J3. 
Died at Washington, D. (..'., Jan. 'iG, 18G3. 
Killed at Savage Station, Ya., JuiU! 29,1802. 
Killed at Ilatclier's Run, Ya., IMarch 25, 18(iS. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. V.i, lS(i2. 
Died at Annapolis, Md., Sept. 24, 1804, of wounds 

received at Wilderness, Ya., Mav 0, 1804. 
Killed at Petersburg, Ya., June 22, 1804. 
Died at Yorktown, Va., :\lay 20,1862. 
Killed at Cold Harbor, Ya., June 5, 1804. 
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., May 30, of wounds 

received at WiUIerness, Ya., Jlay, 1SG4. 
Killed at Spottsyivania C. H., Ya., Mav 11, ISO I. 
Died at Washington, D. C, Jan. 2, 180:5. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 1:5, 1802. 
Died at Harrison's Landintr, Ya., Au-r. 11, 1802. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 180:5. 
Died Sept. 22, 1862, at Wa.shingtoii, D. C. 
Killed at Petersburg, Ya., June 22, 1804. 
Killed at Fair Oaks'^ Ya., Jlay :31, 1802. 
Died at Harrison's lianding, Ya., June 19,18015. 
Died at Anniipolis, ]Md., Nov., 1804. 
Died at Anders"bnville, Ga., Oct. 20, 1804. 



THE END. 



708 



705 



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